Source: fbu.ua
Georgia’s national basketball team, set to face Ukraine in the upcoming World Cup 2027 qualifiers, concluded their preparations with a convincing 87-77 victory over hosts Latvia. The match took place at the Xiaomi Arena in Riga.
This game marked Georgia’s final warm-up before the official qualifying fixtures. On July 2 at 16:00 UTC, Georgia will meet Ukraine in Riga, followed by a home clash against Spain in Tbilisi on July 5.
Georgia started strongly, quickly pulling ahead by winning the first quarter 29-17. Latvia gradually narrowed the gap, trailing by just seven points at halftime, 40-47. In the fourth quarter, the hosts erased the deficit and even took the lead, but Georgia’s leaders responded with an 8-0 run to secure the 87-77 win.
Marquis Reed was the standout performer with 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists. Goga Bitadze contributed 17 points and 8 rebounds, while team captain Duda Sanadze added 12 points, including 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc. Notably, Tonike Shengelia did not participate, resting after a demanding club season.
For Latvia, Rihards Lomazs led the way with 18 points and 5 assists.
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