Rustavi won the Georgian championship after 11 years
Basketball club Rustavi is the champion of Georgia again after 11 years. Under the head coaching of Anatoli Boisa, assisted by Mikheil Beruashvili and Zura Matchavariani, the Qvemo Qartli team also won the third match of the final series against Tskhum-Apkhazeti and became the Super League champion for the first time since 2010.
It is true that Tskhum-Apkhazeti coached by Nikoloz Cherkezishvili lost the final series 0:3, but this team deserves praise. Like the previous match, Tskhumi fought until the end today, they were quite close to victory, but at the expense of individual mastery, the team of Rustavi gained victory in the crucial minutes – 94:88 (Statistics) and won the most important – champions title of the season.
We mentioned the individual mastery of Rustavi and here is why: there were three minutes left before the end of the game, when one of the leaders of Qvemo Qartli, Jylan Washington, took the 5th personal foul and left the court. Prior to that, Rustavi lost other members of the starting five – Merab Boqolishvili and Gegi Baqradze. In other words, a solid part of Rustavi was out of the game, it was the end of the game, everyone was exhausted and stressed. Rustavi did not have the resources to draw a well-thought-out combination and everything depended on individual mastery.
It is gratifying that along with the Rustavi legionnaires, young Zura Vashakidze was the one who determined the fate of the game by scoring one of the most important three-pointers at the last minute and promoting Qvemo Qartli 90:86. It was a solid advantage that needed a little help and victory was guaranteed. This assist was well received by Maliek White, who scored free-throws, stole the ball and made a quick, accurate breakthrough. The American player, who was one of the leaders of Qvemo Qartli throughout the game, made a graceful end.
Rustavi emotionally celebrated the champions title won after an 11-year pause. There are still five people in the current team from the champion team of 11 years before: Mikheil Beruashvili, Anatoli Boisa, Goga Tsekvava, Rezo Chachanidze and Zura Machavariani. Beruashvili was the head coach then, and the rest were the players. Now Anatoli Boisa is the head coach, Beruashvili and Matchavariani are his assistants, Tsekvava and Chachanidze became champions of Georgia again in the role of a player.
Mike Davis, who was named the most valuable player of the season, led the winners in today’s match scoring 21 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. Maliek White was a top-scorer with 30 points. Jylan Washington collected 17 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Alexandre Phevadze was the most effective in Tskhum-Apkhazeti with 22 points and 8 rebounds. Joshua Mc Folly had 21 points, Tyler Green scored 17 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists.
Award Ceremony
Second Place
The second place in the Super League was won by the basketball team Tskhum-Apkhazeti, which was awarded silver medals by veteran basketball players Givi Bichiashvili and Vladimer Dzidziguri.
First Place
Rustavi – the champion of 2020-2021 Super League season was awarded gold medals by the Secretary General of the Georgian Basketball Federation Giorgi Qartvelishvili and the President of the Federation Paata Guraspauli.
The best young player
Zviad Mikadze Cup was imposed for the best young player of the 2020-2021 season of the Basketball Super League. Luka Maziashvili from the basketball club Vera became the best young player and he was awarded by the children of Zviad Mikadze – Salome and Ioana.
Outstanding young player
Dinamo player Luka Bulashvili has been named the outstanding young player of this season’s Super League. He was awarded the Gela Darsadze Cup. Luka Bulashvili was awarded by Gela Darsadze’s wife, Nino Adamia.
The best coach
Anatoli Boisa became the best coach of the Super League, who was awarded the famous coach Giorgi Avalishvili Cup by Giorgi Qartvelishvili, the Secretary General of the Georgian Basketball Federation.
The general sponsor of the Georgian National Basketball Federation, Adjarabet has set a cash prize of 3000 GEL for the best coach of the Super League.
MVP
The most valuable player (MVP) in the Super League for the 2020-2021 season was announced at the award ceremony. As a result of the survey, with the participation of coaches of Super League teams, sports journalists and Super League referees and commissioners, the player of Rustavi team – Michael Davis became the winner.
Lasha Gamkrelidze, Chairman of the Georgian Basketball Players Association, awarded the MVP Cup to Michael Davis.
The general sponsor of the Georgian National Basketball Federation, Adjarabet has set a cash prize of 3000 GEL for the best player.
Champions Cup
Paata Guraspauli, President of the National Basketball Federation, and Irakli Tabaghua, Mayor of Rustavi Municipality, awarded the captain of the champion team Levan Tsekvava with the championship Cup.
