The Georgian national team finished preparation for EuroBasket qualification with Tbilisi Mayor’s Cup. Great Britain, Belarus, Moldova and participated in this tournament with Georgia. Winner was found out in the last game where Georgia and Belarus faced each other. Georgia beat the opponent 76:66, earned 6 points and won the tournament. Belarus, Great Britain and Moldova took the second-fourth places.

The hosts won the first quarter 18:17. In the second quarter the guests equalized the score and then won the first half 39:36. In the second half Tornike Shengelia gained 10-point advantage and the Georgians kept it till the end of the game. Tornike Shengelia earned the most 21 points. Central forward and captain Zaza Pachulia made a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Vitali Liutych earned the most 15 points in the guest team.

Giorgi Shermadini, Viktor Sanikidze and Duda Sanadze did not participate in the game against Belarus. Giorgi Shermadini joined the team today. According to assistant coach Kote Tugushi, Shermadini will not be able to help his team in the first round of EuroBasket qualification. He may play in the second round. As for Sanikidze, he has pain in the waist and Sanadze has pain in the knee. They got injured in the game against Great Britain. According to Tugushi, their injuries are not serious and they will play Czech Republic on August 10. The press conference was held after the game.

Kote Tugushi: “I congratulate everybody on victory of our national team. I want to thank Belarus and all those teams which arrived in Tbilisi and were our opponents in test games…”

Tornike Shengelia: “I want to thank all those teams which participate in the tournament. I want to thank fans who supported us. We have some mistakes but we are trying to improve them. We will try to use time and prepare for EuroBasket qualification…”

Aliaksandr Kudrautsu (captain of the Belarusian national team):  “Our team is young and the basketball players are playing without salaries. You have experienced basketball players and your victory was logical. We finished preparation for EuroBasket qualification. We wish you good luck in EuroBasket qualification…”

Dusan Gozdic (head coach of the Belarusian national team): “I am in Tbilisi for the first time. I have been in a lot of countries and I have never seen such warm greeting. Georgia is a basketball team. So, it is not surprising that you have a good team. I wish good luck in the future. I want to thank the Georgian Basketball Federation for good hospitality…”

Roland Labuchidze