Georgian U20 Team Defeated Austria
Georgian U20 team began European Championship with conceiving win. Our team was resting on the first day of prestigious tournament, which takes place in Tbilisi Arena, and held their first game on July 16th against Austria. Team coached by Milos Gligorijevic, Jaba Bakradze and Andro Antelidze did not give a chance to opponent and defeated them with 81:65.
We remind you that 19 teams gathered in Tbilisi are competing to qualify to elite “A” division. 19 teams are divided into 4 groups. Serbia, the favorite of tournament, became winners of European championship 2 years ago but was relegated and now is competing to come back to “A” division. In first 2 games Serbians won 177 points in total, and there seems no team who could stop them at this tournament yet.
As we have outlined 3 best teams will qualify into “A” division. Consequently, main aim of Georgia is to be among them. Our team was loosing game after 1st period and Austrians indeed looked better at first, but it was their best. After 2nd period we saw completely different Georgian team on the court, playing thoughtfully with purpose.
It took approximately 14 minutes Luka Liklikadze to show best result in Georgian team. Unfortunately we injured ankle afterwards and had to leave the court. He was taken to the hospital where he will undergo a medical examination, although his return to the arena for the remaining games is under question. Liklikadze was most vulnerable player, collecting 9 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals in total.
Vladimer Salaridze became best scorer in our team with 15 points. Zura Vashakidze and Levan Kvartsava scored per 11 points each. Nikoloz Gaprindashvili collected 12 points, 5 rebounds 4 assists. As for Vladimer Tavakarashvili, he scored 8 points.
Sweden with 2 wins is leader of our group. They have beaten Kosovo and north Macedonia in tense game with 92:90. Our team is playing against Sweden in next round- 17th of July, without its main point guard, Luka Liklikadze.
