TBILISI (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) - Georgia got their FIBA EuroBasket 2017 preparations underway in the Slovenian town of Podcetrtek after head coach Ilias Zouros confirmed the national team's training camp squad over the weekend.

The 51-year-old playcaller invited a total of 19 players to the training camp, with the list headlined by NBA champion Zaza Pachulia and featuring most other top players.

"The coaching staff has already been working hard for quite some time, but we finally had the chance to get everyone together and perform the medicals. Now we're off to Slovenia, where the actual training camp begins," Zouros told journalists.

After a long and exhausting season with the Golden State Warriors, the 33-year-old center Pachulia has been given some extra time off and will join his teammates at the beginning of August.

"Pachulia is a very important figure on the team. After him winning an NBA ring, we need him to recover and be ready both psychologically and physically. We are in a tough group, so we'll need all of our players to be in their prime condition to show their best," said Zouros.

Other late arrivals include big men Tornike Shengelia and Giorgi Shermadini, who will come straight to Slovenia, while the soon-to-be 18-year-old prospect Goga Bitadze, currently competing at the FIBA U20 European Championship 2017, Division B is expected on July 24.

Encouraged by how national team candidates, especially front court players Pachulia, Shengelia, Shermadini and Beka Burjanadze, looked throughout the year for their clubs, Zouros pointed out the return of veteran guard Manuchar Markoishvili as a potential game-changing factor.

However, one player that will not be on the squad is Viktor Sanikidze, who still hasn't fully recovered from an injury. While a tough pill to swallow, the coach tried to maintain a positive outlook.

"It is unfortunate we will be unable to count on Sanikidze this summer. He has been one of our most important players in past tournaments, so it is a significant blow," the playcaller of the team acknowledged. "We have already discussed who may get some extra opportunities, but I would not like to mention any specific names at this point."

Among those who may get a shot to fill the vacancy are four players from the reserve squad in Giorgi Gamqrelidze, Ilia Londaridze, Besik Lezhava and Nodar Gogodze.

"The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers are set to start shortly after the end of FIBA EuroBasket 2017 and not all players will be able to play in both, so we want to involve as many of the players as possible and get them to feel the atmosphere," Zouros explained.

Georgia will play in the Tel-Aviv located Group B, with the likes of Germany, Israel, Italy, Lithuania and Ukraine.

FIBA