Georgia Names Roster for Upcoming Clashes with Ukraine and Spain

Georgia's National Team Readies for World Cup Qualifiers

According to Главком: Georgia's basketball squad has kicked off preparations for the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualification tournament. Under the guidance of Serbian head coach Aleksandar Džikić, the team is set to face Ukraine on July 2, 2027, in Latvia, followed by a matchup against Spain on July 5, 2027, in Tbilisi. On June 21, the Georgian delegation departed for the Latvian city of Jurmala, where they will stay until June 29. These games come as Georgia has already secured its spot in the next group stage of the qualifying campaign.

Coach Džikić has selected 14 players for the trip to Latvia. Captain Tornike Shengelia will join the squad after the conclusion of the Spanish league finals, which could run as late as June 28, with Barcelona facing Valencia. Sandro Mamukelashvili is currently in Canada, while naturalized American guard Marquis Reed will link up with the team in Latvia. The roster reflects a mix of domestic talent and players based abroad, including NBA center Goga Bitadze of the Orlando Magic.

Friendly Matches and Ukraine's Recent Results

During their training camp, Georgia will play two exhibition games: June 24 against Angola in Jurmala and June 28 against Latvia in Riga.

Ukraine has already played several matches in the 2027 World Cup qualifiers. In the fourth round, they lost to Spain 78:64. Their third-round meeting with Spain also ended in defeat, 66:86, but Ukraine bounced back in the second round with an 88:71 victory over Denmark. The first qualifying game between Ukraine and Georgia saw Ukraine win 92:79.

Oleksandr Kovliar was the top scorer in the Georgia-Ukraine matchup, putting up 31 points in 37 minutes of play.

Georgia's full roster for the upcoming matches is as follows:

• Rati Andronikashvili (Alftanes, Iceland)
• Giorgi Ochkhikidze (SC Batumi)
• Luka Alavidze (SC Kutaisi)
• Duda Sanadze (Palmer Basket, Spain)
• Sandro Sanadze (SC Margveti)
• Giorgi Kobakhidze (SC Margveti)
• Kakhaber Jincharadze (SC Kutaisi)
• Alexandre Fevadze (SC TDU)
• Beka Burjanadze (Granada, Spain)
• Giorgi Korsantia (Gipuzkoa Basket, Spain)
• Alexandre Merkviladze (Ostend, Belgium)
• Giorgi Turdziladze (SC TDU)
• Vili Isiani (SC Rustavi)
• Goga Bitadze (Orlando Magic, NBA)

With their place in the next group stage already locked in, Georgia's preparation matches offer a prime opportunity for the coaching staff to experiment with tactics and player combinations. Ukraine, having previously beaten Georgia in qualifying, is also fine-tuning its approach, aiming to improve its standing in future rounds. Both teams boast talented rosters capable of swinging the outcome of any game, setting the stage for a fiercely competitive encounter.

As Georgia prepares for its crucial matches against Ukraine and Spain, fans may also be interested in how Ukraine's team will be showcasing their talents. Notably, Ukraine's upcoming games will be broadcast for free, providing an excellent opportunity to follow their performance in the qualifiers and see how they stack up against strong opponents like Georgia.