Georgian basketball fans were lucky at the ballot of final competition of Eurobasket 2011, which was held in Lithuania.24 nationals teams were seeded in 4 groups and Georgian National Team is seeded in group D. Slovenian, Russian, Belgian, Bulgarian and Ukrainian national teams are in the same group.
“World Sport” took an interview from Besik Liparteliani President of Georgian Basketball Federation, who attended ballot of the final stage of Eurobasket 2011.
- Do you agree with opinion that Georgian National Team was seeded relatively in weaker group?
- Of course, I agree. There is no weak team at final stage of European tournament, but there is difference between teams. We got the best variant.
- Why group D is the best variant?
- Slovenia was the best variant from the first seed, because Spanish, Serbian and Greek national teams are stronger than Slovenian one.
All teams in the second seed were strong (France, Croatia, Russia, Turkey). But in spite of everything I would prefer Russian National Team, because I know Russian basketball school very well. From the third (Germany, Lithuania, Montenegro, Belgium) and fifth (Italy, Bulgaria, Poland, Bosnia) seeds of course we wanted Belgian and Bulgarian teams, which were competing in qualifying stage with us. Poland also was in our group but we had better results with Bulgaria.
As for the 6th seed (Ukraine, Latvia, supposedly Finland, Hungary or Portugal) maybe Ukrainian team is favorite with others in this group, but we have positive balance with them and we also know their basketball school very well.
- How do you think, which team will go through the next stage?
- Slovenia and Russia are favorites of group. Others have equal chances of being in top 3.
- What does Georgian National Team aim at final stage of European Championship?
- Georgian National Team competes first time at final stage of European Championship and that’s why going through the next stage will be big success for us.
- Have you talked to Igor Kokoskov head coach of Georgian National Team after ballot?
- Of course, I have.
- How Kokoskov estimate group D?
- Kokoskov as well as we is satisfied.
- Are any changes planned in Georgian National Team?
- Head coach has to decide it, we do not involve in his duty.
- How is preparation plan of Georgian National Team for Eurobasket 2011?
- We are waiting for ballot’s results. After finishing ballot, we will start preparation for Eurobasket 2011 in Vilnius and we will offer to hold sparring matches almost all countries. It has been already decided that on August 13-15 will be held Tbilisi City Hall Cup in Tbilisi and National Team of Israel will participate in this competition. Georgian National Team will have such preparation plane as Kokoskov will decide.
- Does national team have finance problem?
- I want to calm fans down that we do not have any finance problem. Georgian Basketball Federation is financially supported from the government for 5 years.
Roland Labuchidze
