Georgia defeats Montenegro 101-74 in FIBA World Cup qualifiers
The Georgian national basketball team opened the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers with a convincing 101-74 victory over Montenegro at the Korkia-Jorjikia Arena.
The win was particularly important on Georgia’s road to the World Cup in Qatar. Georgia now has four victories and shares third and fourth place in the group with Montenegro.
The Game
The scenario was clear from the outset. Georgia entered the game as the favorite, having its strongest available lineup and home-court advantage, while Montenegro’s main task was to contain Georgia’s key players.
The visitors put up organized defensive resistance, but Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze scored 10 points in the opening minutes and finished with 23.
Trabzonspor guard Markis Reed followed up a steal with a successful scoring play and contributed 12 points overall.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Sandro Mamukelashvili, despite being closely guarded, continued to produce his trademark effective drives and finished with 17 points.
Captain Tornike Shengelia made a crucial contribution after Montenegro erased a 16-point deficit. He hit a free throw in the final seconds of the second quarter and then, following an offensive rebound, drained a three-pointer to give Georgia fresh momentum. Shengelia finished with a team-high 24 points.
Rati Andronikashvili also made an impressive start, reminiscent of his performance against Spain in 2022. He finished the game with nine points.
Georgia also received valuable contributions from the bench, with Duda Sanadze, Aleksandre Merkviladze, Giorgi Turdziladze and Giorgi Ochkhikidze helping the team maintain its advantage.
The game ended much as it had begun, with Georgia remaining in control for most of the contest. Montenegro mainly relied on three-pointers and mid-range shots in an attempt to close the gap, but could not find a way back into the game.
Georgia eventually pulled away decisively in the fourth quarter, breaking Montenegro’s resistance and securing an important 27-point victory.
What’s Next
Georgia will play its next game away against Portugal on August 31.
Following the first round, the top three teams from Groups A and B formed a six-team group, with the points accumulated in the first phase carried over.
Only three of the six teams will qualify for the World Cup, meaning the remaining six games will be decisive. Spain is likely to remain the strongest team in the group, while the battle for the other two qualifying spots is expected to be intense.
The Georgia-Portugal game will be broadcast live by the GPB First Channel on August 31, starting at 22:00 Tbilisi time.