On Sunday, “All-Star” game will take place at 13:00 at Tbilisi Sports Palace. Legionaries and local basketball players will participate in it. As a result of survey, which was held on official website of Super League, 9648 people chose five players for the main staff. Giorgi Tsintsadze (3910 votes), Giorgi Gamkrelidze (3122 votes – both “Olimpi”), Duda Sanadze (2633 votes – “Dinamo”), Giorgi Barbakadze (2425 votes) and Richard Matiashvili (3247 votes – both “Kutaisi) will be in the main staff. Benjamin Woodside (3761 votes), William Thomas (2872 votes), Jeremy Richardson (2576 votes), Joakim Kjellbom (2333 votes – all “Armia”) and Larry Blair (3255 votes – “MIA-Academy”) will be in the team of legionaries. Coaches named other 7-7 players today. Kote Tugushi (head coach of “Armia”), head coach of the local team, named the following players: Davit Sakvarelidze (“Armia”), Lasha Parghalava, Levan Patsatsia (both “Sokhumi”), Akaki Dvalishvili (Samedicino), Beka Chikviladze (TSU), Beka Bekauri and Merab Bokolishvili (both “MIA-Academy”). Giorgos Ketselidis (head coach of “MIA-Academy” and the only legionary coach in current Super League), head coach of legionaries, chose the following players: Anthony Moody, Justin Tubbs (both “MIA-Academy”), Ivo Hoger, Nikica Sljuka (both “Olimpi”), Keyon Carter, Milan Oluic (both “Dinamo”) and Nemanja Ilic (Samedicino). According to their decision, Gia Kazanjian (head coach of “Olimpi”) will be assistant coach of the local team. Zurab Tomaradze (head coach of GTU) will be assistant coach of legionaries.
The following basketball players will participate in throwing balls contest: Giorgi Barbakadze (“Kutaisi”), Justin Tubbs (MIA) and Beka Akhalaia (GTU). The following basketball players will participate in 3 points contest: Giorgi Barbakadze (Kutaisi), Vakhtang Chkareuli (TSU), Benjamin Woodside (“Armia”), Larry Blair (MIA), Nikica Sljuka and Mikheil Berishvili (both “Olimpi”). Participating in throwing balls contest is voluntary but participants of 3 points contest were chosen according to the results of the regular championship. Members of the local team will wear light color shirts and legionaries – dark ones.
Lasha Oniani (show director): “Fans of basketball who will come to Sports Palace on Sunday will watch unforgettable 3-hour show. About 100 people, including dancers, singers and gymnasts, will participate in the show. I am happy that I am a director of “All-Star” game. I will do my best to create positive mood for the audience”.
Giorgi Zabakhidze (executive director of Super League): “I want to mention that such show with support of Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs and Tbilisi City Hall will be held in Tbilisi for the first time. This year’s All-Star coincided with 50 anniversary of legendary team “Dinamo”. So, two big screens will be installed at the top and bottom of Sports Palace and it will show legendary basketball players of the mentioned team. There is a free attendance at “All-Star” game”.
Kote Tugushi (head coach of the local players): “This year we are holding a very high level national championship. Last year, we got among European 12 best teams. It means that Georgian basketball is improving and I think we will watch a great game on Sunday”.
Giorgos Ketselidis (head coach of legionaries): “It is a great honor for me to be a head coach of legionaries. I have a perfect team and we will do our best to please spectators and ourselves. I will not be nervous for the first time in my career. I want to give my young colleague Kote Tugushi basketball board with his initials and All Star”.
Rusudan Chumburidze
