On February 28, at the assembly hall of Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, Besik Liparteliani the president of Georgian Basketball Federation and Merab Ratishvili his general secretary held the press-conference, which was for about preparing plan of Georgian national basketball team for EuroBasket 2013.

As far as you know, last 5 years our national team was having meeting in the city of Austria, Stainbrun. This time, this tradition broke and “The Crusanders” will have preparing stage in the host country of Euro Basket 2013, in the city of Slovenia, Podchetrtek.
It is newsworthy that Georgian national team will hold 11 control matches while having a preparatory period.
Traditionally, candidates of Georgian national basketball team will have a preparatory stage in Tbilisi, on July 8-24. This stage will be ended with the sparring match between Georgia-Lithuania in Kaunas on September 1. Georgian basketball players will leave for competition in the final stage of European championship on September 2. During the press-conference, Besik Liparteliani and Merab Ratishvili answered the questions:
Liparteliani- Igor Kokoskov the head coach of the team wanted to have more control matches during the preparatory stage. We took his wish on our account and made an optimal plan and we planned 11 control matches for national team. All these happen because in group stage Georgian national team will hold 5 matches against Spain, Slovenia, Croatia, Poland and Czech Republic in 6 days. I think our team will prepare well for the final tournament of European championship.  
-   Before qualifying round of European championship 2013, there were made several changes. Nika Tskitishvili, Vladimer Boisa, Lasha Gamkrelidze and other players were concerned as veterans. Kokoskov did not give a chance of playing to the young players (Nodar Tenieshvili, Revaz Rogava), Merab Bokolishvili) instead of them. Will the so called veterans return to the team?

-    The staff of the team which will be named later, will be expanded. It is not excluded, to see the players who were not in the qualifying circle.
-    We could not see any naturalized player, who deserves playing beside Zaza Pachulia, Manuchar Markoishvili, Viktor Sanikidze.. Are you working on changing Jacob Pulen?
-   We offered Boby Braun (“Montepaschi”- Italy) and Jordan Farman (“Efes-Pilzen”- Turkey) to play for Georgian national team, but they refused. So, we are going on working on it. If we find better player than Pulen, he will play for the team. But it must be mentioned, that Pulen played his big role in going through the final stage Euro 2013.
-   What are your plans for the final stage of Euro-2013?
-    At Euro 2012 we went through the final stage and we were among top 12 teams. It will be good if we get place among top 8 teams. But if we look through the group, the same result will be satisfying for us.

Ratishvili – As you know, we used to have a preparatory stage in the city of Austria, Stainbrun, where there are the ideal conditions for trainings. In spite of this, we decided to have the preparatory meeting in the host country. It goes without saying that we will prepare in a better way in the host country of European championship. The city where will be held matches is very near to the city where we will have preparation.
-    How many spectators are the gyms of these cities for?
-    They are about for 5 000. Celje is very near to Croatia, so in fact we will hold matches against 2 host countries.
-    A lot of people expected that the hosts will play in Ljubljana. .
-    Slovenia has the “craziest” fans in Celje and that’s why they chose it.  

Preparation plan of National team
July 8-24 – fitness trainings – Tbilisi
July 25 –August 6 – preparation meeting in Slovenia, Podchetrtek
August 7-9 – International tournament in Italy, Trento.
Participants: Georgia, Italy, Poland, Israel
August 10-13 – preparation meeting, Slovenia, Podchetrtek
August 13 – sparring matches Georgia-Bosnia, Slovenia, Celje
August 14– sparring match Georgia-Bosnia, Slovenia, Jesenic
August 16-17 – International tournament, France, Antibbe
Participants: Georgia, France, Serbia
August 8-22 – preparation meeting in Tbilisi
August 25-28 – International tournament, Israel, Tel-Aviv
Participants: Georgia, Israel, Lithuania, the fourth team is still unknown
September 1  – sparring match Lithuania-Georgia, Kaunjas, Lithuania
September 2 – leaving for Slovenia for European championship

Roland Labuchidze