Mayor’s Cup has started in Tbilisi. Besides Georgia, Great Britain, Belarus and Moldova are participating in the tournament. The Georgians are going to win the tournament and make fans happy. The plans of our today’s opponent seem less ambitious.

Before the game we talked to Vladimir Poleah, Ukrainian head coach of the Moldovan national team. Poleah told us he was appointed on this position on July 21 and the team has experience of only playing in Division C. Poleah also told us the team has only two legionaries.

The Georgian national team held a good game. All 14 basketball players played in this game. Captain Zaza Pachulia played the least time (5 minutes and 40 seconds). Our team had advantage in the first half. We won the first 20 minutes 65:21. The Georgian team won the third-fourth periods 24:20, 19:15. Finally, we won 108:56 and opened Tbilisi Mayor’s Cup with victory.

Tomorrow our national team will face Great Britain. Today the Brits failed to Belarus. They won the first half 40:21 but finally, lost 77:68.

Georgia is a favorite against Great Britain. Our team must play carefully and we will win the second game.

Tbilisi Mayor’s Cup

August 2

Great Britain – Belarus 68:77 (10:12, 30:9, 19:33, 9:23) 

Georgia – Moldova 108:56 (25:12, 40:9, 24:20, 19:15)

Georgia: lineup: Zaza Pachulia (1 rebound, 2 steals, 5.40 minutes), Levan Patsatsia (5 points, 4 rebs, 17.32), Viktor Sanikidze (6 pts, 3 rebs, 4 assists, 12.41), Giorgi Tsintsadze (3 ast, 9 pts, 10.19), Tornike Shengelia (10 pts, 6 rebs, 4 ast, 3 stl, 15.26). substitutes: Nika Metreveli (11 pts, 2 rebs, 2 ast, 19.47), Otar Pkhakadze (5 pts, 2 ast, 2 stl, 20.22), Duda Sanadze (14 pts, 2 rebs, 2 ast, 16.56), Mikheil Chochua (2 pts, 7.48), Beka Burjanadze (17 pts, 3 rebs, 3 stl, 20.22), Giorgi Sharabidze (16 pts, 4 rebs, 18.45), Mikheil Berishvili (2 ast, 2 stl, 9.37), Besik Lejava (10 pts, 2 rebs, 4 ast, 15.26), Beka Tsintsivadze (3 pts, 5 ast, 9.19).

Gocha Kacharava