Georgian national basketball team has celebrated the greatest victory in its history. This fact was recorded in Bulgarian capital Sofia, where Georgian team beat the hosts 83:79 in the 2011 European Championship qualifying round match-up. After this victory, Georgia has made a vital bid for qualifying from Group C.
Igor Kokoshkov’s team managed to beat Bulgaria who has never lost at home until today. Note that upon Bulgaria home defeat, only Portugal lost its home game in Group C. Georgian national team was expecting to win at least one of the upcoming two matches (against Bulgaria and Poland). Georgians managed to take two points from Sofia’s “Universiada” arena and by doing so, satisfying minimum requirements of the expectations in the first game. This win might be decisive from group standings perspective.
The game scoring was opened by Philip Videnov’s two-pointer. Videnov was doubtful for this game, but he did play 30 minutes and scored 29 points for his team. Luckily for us, it wasn’t enough for Bulgaria to overcome our team.
After Videnov’s opener, game advantage was on Georgian side. Taurean Green scored a quick 4 points, with Pachulia, Sanikidze, and Shengelia adding up two points each. Afterwards, hosts were given the first opportunity to break away in this game. Georgia was in a lead by 5 points (14:9) and could have scored more if not offensive miscommunication. Rosen Barchovski requested a perfectly timed time-out, after which Bulgaria managed to reduce the deficit. Videnov closed the first quarter just like he opened it, with a medium-range shot which made the score 22:23 with the visitors in front.
At the start of the second quarter, Igor Kokoshkov’s team built up a successful break through the Bulgarian defensive line. Our team was playing so that Bulgarians had a hard time covering all the open spots that were present throughout the perimeter. Manuchar Markoishvili, who is considered as one of the best shooters in Georgian team, was the one who found those open spots. Markoishvili played his best match so far in this tournament by scoring 23 points (9 out of 10 shots at the start) and becoming a hero of the match. In the middle of the second quarter “Manu” scored for himself and added an assist on Pachulia’s personal scoreboard. In the next attack Georgia showed a great team play, which resulted in Lasha Gamkrelidze’s precise downtown shot. The score line was 31:37 for the visitors, when Barchovski decided to take time-out. Once again this tactical move by Bulgarian coach was perfectly timed as Bulgarians made a 12 to 2 run after the game was resumed. The first half ended with a score 43:39 for the hosts.
Victor Sanikidze’s 4 quick points plus Tornike Shengelia’s profitable attack resulted in Georgia’s perfect start in the second half of the match – 39:45. After this breakthrough the game balanced and the teams were exchanging points. Third quarter finished with our team’s triumph. Once again Markoishvili played a huge role in achieving four point advantage before the decisive fourth quarter of the game by scoring 7 straight points for our team.
Scoreboard showed 58:54 as both teams went on to the fourth quarter. Nickoloz Tskitishvili banged in a huge three pointer, which brought Georgia back to the 7 point lead. However, it still didn’t break the opponent. Bulgaria’s American player Earl Calloway scored a crucial 5 points which was a key part of Bulgaria 9-0 run and helped Bulgarians to rehabilitate in front of their spectators. With 7 minutes and 20 seconds to go home side were leading by two points – 63:61.
Bulgarians were not expecting receiving 10 straight points in their basket. Unfortunately for them it did happened so, however, with Georgia’s most experienced center positioned player Zaza Pachulia caring on leader functions. Pachulia scored an extremely important two points with an additional free throw and then scoring another two from beneath the basket. Zaza’s actions cheered up Sanikidze and “Manu” who followed their captain in demoralizing the home side. The score line was now 63:71 for the Georgians.
Dejan Ivanov and Videnov were still in the game. Thanks to those two, Bulgaria stayed in this game – 69:71. 3 and a half points before the end of the game, Taurean Green came from nowhere and dropped in 8 (!) out of team’s 12 points in the remaining time period. He started with a huge three-pointer and then added 5 free throws to his account.
Just 24 second before the final whistle, Taurean Green converted both free throws into two points, which gave Georgia a four point advantage – 77:81. Bulgaria’s leader Philip Videnov desired to reduce the deficit to one point, but he failed to make it in from outside the arc. It all rounded up after his miss. In the remaining 8 seconds of the game George Tsintsadze exchanged two points with Videnov, which had no influence on the game outcome. Georgia celebrated an extremely important victory in Sofia.
Even though we are only half way through the 2011 European qualification stage, yesterday’s game might be decisive in the group. If we look over the Group C standings, it is possible that home wins against Belgium and Bulgaria along with away win in Portugal will be enough for Georgia to progress to the European Championship which will be held in Lithuania next year.
The next game that Georgian national basketball team will be involved in will be held in the city of Lodz, Poland. In case we will not win, we should manage to keep the 19 point advantage which was achieved in Tbilisi in the first game against the Polish side. Point-difference may be vital in our group.
Until then, we can enjoy the victory and Group C standing where Georgian national team is in control despite the same amount of points (7-7) with Belgium. Georgians have better point-difference compared to Belgians, who yesterday lost away to Poland by twenty points – 93:73. We are now close as never to the 2011 FIBA Europe basketball tournament.
2011 European Basketball Championship Qualifying Round. Group C.
“Universiada” Arena. Sofia, Bulgaria. Attendance: 3000
Bulgaria 79:83 Georgia (22:23; 21:16; 11:19; 25:25)
Bulgaria: D. Ivanov (23 min. 15 pts. 4 reb.), K. Ivanov (24 min. 4 pts. 5 reb.), Avramov (10 min. 3 pts.), Kostov (20 min. 4 pts.), Videnov (30 min. 29 pts. 3 reb. 3 ast.), Calloway (30 min. 12 pts. 4 reb. 4 ast. 4 stl.), S. Georgiev (17 min. 8 pts. 3 ast.), Z. Georgiev (10 min, 2 pts. 2 ast.), A. Georgiev (20 min. 2 pts. 4 reb.), Varbanov (15 min.)
Head Coach: Rosen Barchovski
Georgia: Gamkrelidze (14 min. 5 pts.), Pachulia, (33 min. 12 pts. 8 reb. 3 ast. 2 blk.), Tsintsadze (28 min. 6 pts. 2 reb.), Shermadini (7 min. 2 pts.), Tugushi (4 min.), Markoishvili (25 min. 23 pts. 7 reb.), Sanikidze (32 min. 8 pts. 9 reb. 6 ast.), Metreveli (1 min.), Green (31 min. 14 pts. 5 ast.), Tskitishvili (16 min. 8 pts. 2reb. 2 ast.), Shengelia (11 min. 5 pts. 4 reb.)
Head Coach: Igor Kokoshkov
Referees: Milan Mazic (SRB), Petros Papapetrou (GRE), Robert Paulik (CZE)
Statistics:
Two pointers: 22/45 (48.9%) --- 19/33 (57.6%)
Three pointers: 7/19 (36.8%) --- 9/20 (45.0%)
Free Throws: 14/20 (70.0%) --- 18/26 (69.2%)
Rebounds: 30 (8 Offensive) --- 38 (6 Offensive)
Assists: 12 --- 18
Steals: 7 --- 2
Blocks: 2 --- 5
Turnovers: 9 --- 17
After the match
Igor Kokoshkov:”I’ll say briefly. Georgia should be proud of these boys. They played with heart and soul which helped them to achieve a very important victory. Now we should concentrate on Poland. There is no need to fall into euphoria. ”
Zaza Pachulia:”We played very well and the outcome is there. I’m not surprised by Bulgaria. I knew that it was going to be a tough match and it happened so. Now we will try to win in Poland. We have stimulus and desire to do so. Polish will try to revenge; we shall not give them such an opportunity.”
Manuchar Markoishvili:”We have achieved a very important victory and I’m very happy. I don’t remember when Bulgaria lost last time in this arena. Our team was the first one to break through. We felt the cheer-up compassion that was coming from our spectators. I want to tell them that they should never be in doubt about the national team performance. We always battle selfless and today we were ready to play 40, if necessary 45 minutes, in order to work out our maximum. Now, we are awaiting the most important game in Poland, where in Lodz, we should arrange a huge battle as well.”
Besik Liparteliani (Georgian Basketball Federation President): “Situation in our group is arranged so that home defeat would be an equality to a disaster. Therefore, I can imagine how stimulated Bulgarians will be. They have beaten many strong teams on the home ground; so therefore, this is a huge success for our team to overcome them. The boys have reflected their strength and have made one more step towards the qualification from the group. The team is now acquiring form and it is crucial to maintain present spirit for upcoming games, which are also important. The very next one will be in Lodz. We beat Polish by a big margin, so without a doubt, they will try to take a revenge. Hopefully, Zaza Pachulia will be fully "loaded" in the next game. Today he was disturbed by the foot pain, he still played, however. I will add one more thing. Sport Department found funds to organize air charter for us as we will travel to Portugal.”
Rosen Barchovski: “Georgia appeared to be stronger team than we expected. Pachulia, whose average is 21 points, managed to score only 12 points, but it appeared that they have other good players. Only Videnov justified my hopes, unlike others. For example, Calloway could have done better. We should beat Portugal on August the 17th by any means. Afterwards we will have 6 day rest before the decisive match against Poland for which we should prepare well.”
Stephan Georgiev: “We started the game not bad, but were unable to held on. We made a bunch of mistakes in the second half, which destroyed our hopes of winning. These kind of mistakes isn’t being forgiven by any team, moreover by the strong team like Georgia. We managed to stop Pachulia, but despite him others played well. We appeared in a very difficult situation. In order to qualify from group we should win at least one game away from home along with winning all the home games. ”
Phillip Videnov: “We had not much problems upfront, we did play horrible in the defensively, however. Hopefully, in the next matches we will show our real strength. There is still a chance of qualifying for the European championships. If the boys will analyze their mistakes, we might achieve the desirable.”
Standings
1. Georgia 4 3/1 304/275 7
2. Belgium 4 3/1 299/295 7
3. Poland 4 2/2 314/295 6
4. Bulgaria 4 2/2 289/286 6
5. Portugal 4 0/4 249/304 4
Calendar:
Bulgaria 17.08. 18:00 Portugal
Poland 17.08. 20:15 Georgia
Georgia 20.08. 19:00 Belgium
Portugal 20.08. 21:30 Poland
Poland 23.08. 20:15 Bulgaria
Belgium 23.08. 20:15 Portugal
Bulgaria 26.08. 18:00 Belgium
Portugal 26.08. 21:30 Georgia
Georgia 29.08. 19:00 Bulgaria
Belgium 29.08. 20:15 Poland
