One round before the end of EuroBasket 2013 qualification Georgia guaranteed playing at final stage which will be hosted by Slovenia.
In Group D (Bosnia, Georgia, Latvia, Holland, Romania) after Bosnia, game between Latvia and Georgia found out the second winner of the group. Georgia won a very tough game with three points, 73:70 and guaranteed playing in Slovenia one round before the end of the qualification. It is worth mentioning that Georgia won the first game with three points, 79:76. This victory guaranteed Georgia to take the second place in Group D. If Bosnia beats Romania, it will take the first place because Georgia and Bosnia have the same points but Bosnia has +3. If Bosnia loses to Romania, Georgia must win over Holland and will take the first place. If Bosnia and Georgia win, game against Holland will not be important because in case of any result Georgia will take the second and Holland – the fourth place. Latvia must defeat Romania to get among four best third-placed.
Like Georgia-Bosnia game, yesterday’s game was important for the both teams because winner would guarantee playing at final stage of EuroBasket 2013. If Georgia – Bosnia game (107:104) was very beautiful to watch, we cannot say the same about yesterday’s game. Latvia- Georgia game was very tough but it turned out very uninteresting.
The both teams made accent on defense. If good play of Latvia in defense was not surprise, good play of our team was a pleasant surprise for everybody.
The game started with advantage of the guests who advanced with 5:0 thanks to good play of Manuchar Markoishvili. Soon the hosts started playing better and won the first quarter with 6 points, 13:7. After good play of Jacob Pullen who scored 8 points in the second quarter, the guests equalized the score and advanced with 7 points before big break (31:24). In the second half the guests advanced with more than 7 points. The hosts did their best and managed to advance with one point (44:43).
The last minutes of the game turned out very tough. One minute and 50 seconds before the end of the main time, the guests had 7-point advantage (70:63). At the last seconds, the hosts minimized the score (70:71). Georgian basketball players stole offence of Latvians and Zaza Pachulia scored two points – 73:70. The hosts had 9,6 seconds to save the game but they could not do it. Strelnieks could not score three points. The Latvians had another chance to save the game but this time Kuksiks could not score three points.
Manuchar Markoishvili earned the most 17 points. Zaza Pachulia, Jacob Pullen, Dairis Bertans and Arturs Berzins scored 15-15 points.
Latvia-Georgia 70:73 (13:7, 11:24, 21:17, 25:25)
Latvia: Vertsvagars (2min, 1 a), Meieris (7min, 2p, 1r), Treimanis (5min, 1r), Davis Bertans (16min, 3p, 3r), Yeromanovs (19min, 3p, 3r, 1a), Strelnieks (29min, 11p, 2r, 6a), Berzins (23min, 15p, 5r, 2პa),Selakovsky (10min, 2p, 4r), Meyers (24min, 14p, 8r, 1a), Kuksiksy (31min, 5p, 3r, 1a), Dairis Bertans (32min, 15p, 2r, 2a).
Georgia: Pachulia (30min, 15p, 2r, 2a), Tsintsadze (34min, 14p, 1r, 2a), Shermadini (10min, 2p, 3r), Markoishvili (24min, 17p, 6r, 1a), Patsatsia (10min, 2r), Sanikidze (33min, 7p, 9r), Shengelia (28min, 3p, 8r, 1a), Pullen (20min, 15p, 2r, 4a).
