Georgian national basketball team lost 4 out of 5 matches in the European Championship 2013 and took the second place from the bottom in C group. We reached the 2nd round in the previous EuroBasket and if we discuss the results, the performance of the Georgian players was not successful, but due to many reasons, we are not able to critic them.
The apprentices of Igor Kokoshkov played the final match against Spain and it was difficult to think about the success. Georgian players hold only 17 minutes and then the advantage of opponent became clear and the match had a logical outcome – 59:83.
Before the match, Georgia has lost another key player of, Manuchar Markoishvili. “Manu” injured his leg in the match against Czech Republic and in a view of the fact that the match against Spain decided nothing, coaches do not risk his health.
In absence of Markoishvili, Ricky Hickman, American naturalized player, took his place. And in the rest, lineup was unchanged: Giorgi Tsintsadze, Giorgi shermadini, Levan Patsatsia and Viktor Sanikidze. The Georgian tactic was also unchanged. Our team was trying to stop Spanish team with a zone defense, which has brought the fruit only in the beginning of the match.
The Georgians tried to maximize their chances. As a result, Georgian team was a leader during 8:10 minutes in the first half. The last time, we were on top for 3 minutes before the end of the second quarter 27:26, after what the Spanish Rudy Fernandez managed to escape and in the big break took the advantage with 12 points – 41:29.
After this, there was not fight in the match. The difference in class was apparent and the advantage of opponents came even to 30 points. This difference was a merit of Rubio, who scored 7 of 7 shots and gained 16 points, and Sergio Rodriguez (15 points).
In a result, we saw all 11 players of Georgia in the field. 10 of them could gain the points. Only Otar Pkhakadze remained without point., but it also should be told, that he played only 02:06 minutes. The Georgians scored 25 points and this is the best result for us in the current European Championship.
But the game against Spain did not go well for them. Because after the dramatic matches of EuroBasket, have not been able to fully recover. Giorgi tsintsadze, Ricky Hickman and Viktor Sanikidze used only 7 throws form 31 and gained 21 points in total.
More effectively played Giorgi shermadini, who added 4 rebounds to 10 points. Besik Lezhava and Duda Sanadze gained 7-7 points and accordingly they played for 22:21 and 23:35 minutes. Sanadze made some beautiful passages under shield and he gave us hope, that Georgian team will have another good player.
Unlike the game against the Czechs (we got 60 points under the shield), this time we face the opponents suitably and won over 32:30, but the Spanish team had advantage in other components. We lost 35:43 in rebounds, 10:22 in assists, 5:9 in steals and 2:7 in block-shots.
In the end, the team completed its performance at Eurobasket, and could not repeat the result of the last EuroBasket.
European Basketball Championship 2013. C group. Celje (Slovenia). 5th round.
Georgia – Spain 59:83 (17:17, 12:24, 10:21, 20:21)
Georgia: Tsintsadze (32 min. 6 p. 5 as.), Shermadini (25 min. 10 p. 4 reb.), Hikman (26 min. 7 p. 5 reb.), Patsatsia (14 min. 3 p.), Sanikidze (24 min. 8 p. 4 reb.); Metreveli (16 min. 4 p. 4 reb.), Pkhakadze (2 min.) Sanadze (24 min. 7 p. 3 reb.), Burjanadze (5 min. 2 p.), Lezhava (22 min. 7 p. 5 reb.), Tskitishvili (9 min. 5 p. 3 reb.).
Head coach: Igor Kokoshkov.
Spain: Aguilar (13 min. 2 p. 3 reb.), Fernandez (22 min. 11 p. 4 reb.), Calderon (19 min. 3 p. 3 as.), Rubio (18 min. 16 p. 5 reb. 3 as.), Gasol (22 min. 4 p. 8 reb. 4 as.); Rodriguez (22 min. 15 p. 3 reb. 4 as.), Rey (18 min. 6 p. 8 reb.), Claver (8 min. 4 p.), San Emeterio (18 min. 3 p. 3 reb.), Llull (21 min. 11 p.), Mumbru (10 min. 3 p.).
Head coach: Juan Orenga
Referee: Boris Rijik (Ukraine), Aleksandr Miloevic (Macedonia), Omer Esteron (Israel)
Team Stats
Georgia– Spain
Field goals: 22/62 – 32/68
2 pointers: 17/45 (37.8%) – 20/38 (52.6%)
3 pointers: 5/17 (29.4%) – 12/30 (40.0%)
Free throws: 10/14 (71.4%) – 7/9 (77.8%)
Rebounds: 35 (off 12) – 43 (def 13)
Assists: 10 – 22
Turnovers: 14 – 9
Steals: 5 – 9
Block-shots: 2 – 7
Personal fouls: 14 – 15
Point after turnover: 10 – 19
Point from 3-minute zone 32 – 30
“Second chance” point: 8 – 10
Point after offence: 4 – 33
Substitutes point: 25 – 47
Biggest leadership: 3 – 30
Biggest “run”: 8:0 (17:15) – 13:0 (32:56)
Change of leader: 8
Draw score: 5
Leadership time: 08:10 – 27:30
Dato Manjavidze, special correspondent of www.worldsport.ge from Celje
EuroBasket-2013 is presented by online bookmaker TBILISIBET.COM and Spanish sports clothing manufacturer Joma
