[rikhardur]

League signings:

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Energy Invest Rustavi
MVP of 2007-08 Georgian Superleague Konstantine Tugushi (193-G-84) signed 1 year contract with Energy Invest Rustavi. This time one more Georgian is back from abroad Davit Ugrekhelidze came back from Bosnia to Energy. Giorgi Gamqrelidze (183-G-86) and Besik Lezhava (192-G-86) are remained in Davit Ustiashvili's roster for upcoming season as well. More transfer news will be announced soon for Energy Invest Rustavi as team management is planning to import some bosman and American players for Eurocup Challenge Elimination Round.

Avia Tbilisi
Anatoli Boisa (195-G-83, college: Lincoln Memorial) is first biggest signing by Avia Tbilisi this season. Soso Shermadini (208-C-86) is also in Moseshvili's team for upcoming season. Richard Matiashvili (209-C-89) and Giorgi Nikoladze (188-G-81) are staying in Avia Tbilisi this year as well. Levan Moseshvili (195-F-87) will probably announce the full roster soon but we shouldn't expect probably any foreigners in the team.

Maccabi Brinkford Tbilisi
European Star Giorgi Shermadini (216-C-89) after his wonderful U20 European Championships (21.5ppg, 10.5rpg, 3.7bpg, 72.3 FG%) will not stay in Georgia this season. There are some rumors that several Euroleague teams are trying to recruit him for next couple of years. Maccabi Brinkford Tbilisi will have very young team this year. Some of the players already announced: Davit Ioseliani, Zviad Antadze, Irakli Ivaneishvili (194-G-89), Zura Bibiluri (204-C-87) and Viktor Koguashvili (205-C-85).

TSU Tbilisi
Giorgi Markoishvili (200-G/F-83) is biggest signing by TSU Tbilisi this year. Other transfer news is not announced by TSU Tbilisi management so far but we should probably think that Mikheil Panchulidze (195-F-83) and Irakli Keidia (203-F-83) will be staying in the team as well.

Dinamo Tbilisi
Tato Tavartkiladze (-G) is a new PG for Dinamo Tbilisi. For Shooting Guard position Zaza Tsagareishvili has recruited Zurab Korkotadze (194-F-83) from Maccabi Brinkford Tbilisi.

http://www.eurobasket.com/Georgia/basketba...p?NewsID=142054

As stated, G. Shermadini won't play in Georgia, does anyone know of any rumours about his next club?

[rikhardur]

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NTD moved from Baku to Tbilisi - Oct 8, 2008 (by Lasha Danelia)

Azerbaijanian professional basketball club NTD moved to Georgian Capital Tbilisi. The head coach Nugzar Kandelaki was coaching this team few years ago in Azerbaijan and won Azerbaijanian Championships. There were some rumors that the team might play FIBA EuroCup Challenge this year but as team owner Mr. Bakhram Abdinov stated the team has serious plans in the future. NTD brought its 4 Azerbaijanian National Team players: Tahir Bakhshiyev (199-F-82), Zaur Pashayev (184-G-83), Anar Sariyev (196-G-81) and Fuad Niftaliyev (178-G-80).

In the upcoming season unfortunantely our neighbor Azerbaijan has no basketball league any more. In the Caucasian region Georgia is the only one having own national championships while no Armenia and no Azerbaijan are having its championships.

http://www.eurobasket.com/Georgia/basketba...p?NewsID=143021

[rikhardur]

Some highlights of the NT and some player statements (in Georgian of course )

[rikhardur]

Series of articles about basketball in Georgia: "A Toast for Georgia 1 and 2".

[Black Urum]

Georgia actually has basketball?

I've seen one basketball court in Georgia, it was basically 2 baskets in a field. People used the structure on which the baskets were based as horizontal bars to imitate Tarzan flying from one bar to another.

[rikhardur]

Black Urum, on 19 January 2009 - 09:55 PM, said:

Georgia actually has basketball?

I've seen one basketball court in Georgia, it was basically 2 baskets in a field. People used the structure on which the baskets were based as horizontal bars to imitate Tarzan flying from one bar to another.

And the most interesting thing is that they keep producing top players

[rikhardur]

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Georgian U16 National Team 2009

5 Beka Gudushauri (190-G-93)
6 Giorgi Amirkhanashvili (192-G-93)
7 Beka Burjanadze (200-C-94)
8 Otar Pkhakadze (183-G-93)
9 Valeri Kvantaliani (198-F-94)
10 Irakli Mikeladze (179-G-94)
11 Saba Lobjanidze (190-G-93)
12 Beka Nadiradze (201-C-94)
14 Gegi Meskhi (-93)
14 Giorgi Meskhi (196-F-93)
15 Archil Peikrishvili (190-F-93)
16 Levan Lolishvili (198-F-94)
18 Levan Leshkasheli (189-G-93)
Head Coach: Giorgi Kazanjiani

http://www.eurobasket.com/Georgia/basketba...p?NewsID=153236

Burjanadze is already showing what he's worth...

[rikhardur]

18-year-old prospect Tornike Shengelia.

[rikhardur]

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Georgian Top Internationals Prospects

Georgia is among the countries that produces very skilful players for years. As 4.7 million population small country we are expecting to have one or two big time talents in each generation. Let's take a look of those talents in each generation.

1992 - Merab Bokolishvili
Merab Bokolishvili is a 198cm long-range bomber and has loads of potential. He's athletic wing players, who will most likely have to transition to the point guard position in the big basketball. His extraordinary size for a PG combined with his ability to score with the jumper, make him a tough match up. He glides to the basket with precision and ease and has a great 'feel' for the game. He can take the ball off the dribble and finish or drop a dime. Merab will be probably next European college player in the NCAA D1 after two 2 upcoming seasons.

1991 - Tornike Shengelia
There has been talk of Shengelia being 'The Next Best Thing' ever since he left from Georgia. Tornike has great athleticism, quickness and fantasy. He can step back and knock down the jumper, step even further back and knock down the three, and can even play with his back to the basket with his effective post moves. He is a very versatile player at 207cm with extremely dedicated work ethic. The fact that he's such a big perimeter player, so talented and intelligent, leads us to think that he will be able to adjust to any level of basketball he's thrown in, even NBA.

1990 - Levan Shengelia
Levan is very good athlete. He does what he looks like he should do C bang on the inside, grab rebounds, and with his 216cm wingspan, anchor his team's interior defense. Very competitive and eager to improve, there are no motivation question marks with him. He battles at all times to establish post position and is very active on the court. He is a very good rebounder especially on the offensive glass where he is relentless. He's having professional preparation in the USA currently and most likely he's at least to get full scholarship in one of the high ranked college in the NCAA D1.

1989 - Giorgi Shermadini
Shermadini started playing basketball in January 2005, when he was 16 years old. Despite his brief playing experience, he became top international player in his age category, also ranked by DraftExpress.com in the summer of 2008. His stats on U20 European Championships 2008 all together appeared highest ever (21.5ppg, 10.5rpg, 3.7bpg, FGP 73.8%). A lot NBA scouts are considering Shermadini as a lottery pick on NBA Draft. Hes more physical Pau Gasol type player, who is currently playing in one of the biggest European team Panathinaikos Athens.

http://www.eurobasket.com/Georgia/basketba...p?NewsID=155784

[Black Urum]

If we believe eurobasket.com Georgia will be a major power in European basketball soon. What a joke.

[rikhardur]

Black Urum, on 24 March 2009 - 06:02 AM, said:

If we believe eurobasket.com Georgia will be a major power in European basketball soon. What a joke.

You can't deny their potential...

[Black Urum]

rikhardur, on 24 March 2009 - 06:16 AM, said:

You can't deny their potential...

What pontential? You really believe they will become anything better than 2nd division team?

Unless suddenly Soviet Union will form again and the new Joseph Saakashvistalin will make Georgia the centre of Soviet Sports.

[rikhardur]

Black Urum, on 25 March 2009 - 05:11 PM, said:

What pontential? You really believe they will become anything better than 2nd division team?

Unless suddenly Soviet Union will form again and the new Joseph Saakashvistalin will make Georgia the centre of Soviet Sports.

Their potential will materialise sooner or later. Find me another second division team in Europe that had or has the likes of Pachulia, Shermadini, Markoishvili, Stepania, Tskitishvili, Boisa, Natsvlishvili, Sanikidze, etc.. Georgia has potential like any other NT in Europe. From what I gather the problems are extra basketball, such as corruption, an unstable country, weak economy, etc..

[Black Urum]

rikhardur, on 25 March 2009 - 08:51 PM, said:

Their potential will materialise sooner or later. Find me another second division team in Europe that had or has the likes of Pachulia, Shermadini, Markoishvili, Stepania, Tskitishvili, Boisa, Natsvlishvili, Sanikidze, etc.. Georgia has potential like any other NT in Europe. From what I gather the problems are extra basketball, such as corruption, an unstable country, weak economy, etc..

Come on man, you surely think more of me, so you test me harder. Montenegro.

Yes, Shermandini is great, I enjoy him every week in OAKA, he carries Diamantidis' and Pekovic' gatorade drinks faster than Flash.

[rikhardur]

Black Urum, on 25 March 2009 - 08:56 PM, said:

Come on man, you surely think more of me, so you test me harder. Montenegro.

Yes, Shermandini is great, I enjoy him every week in OAKA, he carries Diamantidis' and Pekovic' gatorade drinks faster than Flash.

Count Montenegro out of course
Don't be so sarcastic about Shermadini, you'll eat those words in a few years

[rikhardur]

Energy Rustavi 130 Batumi 52
Avia 70 GSAU 73
TSU 95 NTD 82
Imedi Tbilisi 78 Dynamo Tbilisi 69

Standings:
1. Energy Rustavi
2. GSAU
3. TSU
4. Avia
5. NTD
6. Batumi
7. Dynamo Tbilisi
8. Imedi Tbilisi
9. Maccabi Tbilisi

[Black Urum]

rikhardur, on 26 March 2009 - 02:45 AM, said:

Don't be so sarcastic about Shermadini, you'll eat those words in a few years

Seems that he is really close to pull off his first double double figure for Panathinaikos

rikhardur, on 30 March 2009 - 01:40 AM, said:

6. Batumi

Are you sure this is right? Because Batumi is in Adjara, not Georgia.

[rikhardur]

Black Urum, on 05 April 2009 - 04:34 PM, said:

Are you sure this is right? Because Batumi is in Adjara, not Georgia.

Isn't that an autonomous region within Georgia? Anyway, NTD is from Azerbaijan and they play in the Georgian league as well.

[rikhardur]

Shermadini finished with 12 points (3/6 FG, 6/6 FT) + 9 rebounds + 3 assists + 2 steals in nearly 30 minutes of play. Way to go! Glad he finally had extended playing time

[Black Urum]

and 8received fouls + 25 ranking

Do you think we should create a Georgi Shermndini thread?