The 3rd round of A League, which started yesterday in Tbilisi, ended today in Telavi. The local team Burji hosted Orbi Tbilisi and defeated it in a tense battle – 79:75 (Statistics). Telavi beat the opponent at the last minute, before that an equal fight was going on.
The first half ended 37:37, and before the third period the score was still a draw – 57:57. A minute and a half before the end of the match, Orbi was winning by one point, but at the crucial moment, the hosts turned out to be at the higher level. 70 seconds before the final siren, Zaza Gagnidze shot 1 of 2 free-throws and equalized the score. Then Nikoloz Dolidze advanced the hosts 77:75 with an accurate breakthrough.
The fate of the game was decided when the American legionnaire of Orbi, Armani Flannigan, missed the shot, lost the ball and Mauras Quan from Telavi came to the penalty line. The American legionnaire scored both shots and made the Telavi team inaccessible to the opponent in the remaining 12 seconds.
Unruh Smythe led the winners with 19 points. Mauras Quan collected 17 points and 7 assists. Zaza Gagnidze and Xavier Newson had 14-14 points each. Jordan Walker was the most effective in Orbi with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. Armani Flannigan scored 12 points and 13 rebounds. Nika Leonidze had 14 points.
The next matches of A League will be held on March 7 at the Olympic Palace: Orbi – Kavkasia 13:00, Mega – Burji 15:00
