TBILISI (FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers) – Recently-appointed Georgian national team head coach Ilias Zouros has announced an 18-strong preliminary squad for the upcoming FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers that is replete of the country's biggest names.

Veteran center Zaza Pachulia, who is coming off a superb personal season with the Dallas Mavericks, headlines the squad. The 32-year-old big man averaged a career-best 9.4 rebounds to go with his 8.6 points per game in what was his 12th season in the NBA to help the Texas team reach the play-offs.

Georgia's biggest strength has traditionally been their frontcourt and coach Zouros has called up all of the players who flanked Pachulia in the frontline last September, as Georgia reached the FIBA EuroBasket 2015 Round of 16 and fell to eventual finalists Lithuania in a memorable clash.

Tornike Shengelia, who put in sublime performances at FIBA EuroBasket 2015 and led Georgia in scoring in the tournament was sidelined for the biggest part of the season through injury but returned to action last week with Laboral Kutxa Baskonia, so he should be available for the Greek coach in the Qualifiers.

The 2.16m center Giorgi Shermadini, who also played in the Spanish Liga Endesa this year, had one of the best seasons of his career as he averaged 13.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game for MoraBanc Andorra. Veteran all-round forward Viktor Sanikidze, rising star Beka Burjanadze and power forward Nika Metreveli have also been included.

Zouros has of course also called up star winger Manuchar Markoishvili and playmaker George Tsintsadze as the only two players from the EuroBasket 2015 side that have not been included in this summer's preliminary squad are small forward Levan Patsatsia and naturalised point guard Jacob Pullen.

The 18-strong list also includes four young players in Beka Bekauri, Giorgi Gogoberishvili Kakhaber Jintcharadze and Luka Zakradze who will get the chance to work alongside the senior team in training camp and possibly earn some playing time in the Qualifiers.
 
Georgia were drawn in Group F of the Qualifiers and will have to do battle with Albania, Montenegro and Slovakia for a ticket to the Final Round of FIBA EuroBasket 2017.

FIBA