GEO - National team experience ranks at the top for Sanikidze

ZARAGOZA (EuroBasket) - It's little wonder that people in the country of Georgia have fallen in love with basketball and their national team.

Some of the Georgian players are among the most exciting in Europe, and show plenty of flair when they run onto the court.

The best known is now in the NBA.

Zaza Pachulia, a 29-year-old center, played for Atlanta but is now with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Tornike Shengelia, a 22-year-old power forward, is in his second season with the Brooklyn Nets.

Nikoloz Tskitishvili, a 30-year-old power forward/center has NBA experience, too.

Tskitishvili was the fifth overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft by Denver and spent time in the league before returning to Europe.

Among the most exciting of all the Georgia national team players, Viktor Sanikidze, could join Pachulia and Shengelia in the NBA one day, too.

The 27-year-old forward spent a year at Globe Tech Junior College in Manhattan, playing there in the 2001-02 season, and he was the 42nd pick overall by the Atlanta Hawks in 2004.

Having played all over Europe, in Russia, Estonia, Italy, France and Georgia, he is now in his second stint in Spain's top flight, on the books of CAI Zaragoza.

The 2.03m Sanikidze is a tremendous leaper and was among the most exciting players at EuroBasket 2013 in Slovenia, where he led Georgia in scoring at 14.6 points per game.

Donning the national team shirt is something he loves to do.

"It's special for us," he said.

Sanikidze played for Georgia's youth teams before graduating to the senior side in 2007.

"The first time I went to the national team, I was so happy," he said.

"It had been a dream since I was a kid, watching all of the older players play for the national team in a crowded arena, it's great."

Georgia could one day be among the best in Europe.

They had a terrific team this summer, but lacked luck.

The team thrashed Poland in their opening game, but then lost heart-breakers to Croatia and hosts Slovenia.

The Czech Republic and then Spain beat them in their final two games as they came up short of the second round.

"We missed two players from the national team but we showed everyone that we can fight," Sanikidze said.

"It was going to be a huge if we had qualified.

"But we didn't have much energy because we usually played with six, seven players.

"The last two games against the Czech Republic and the Spanish, we just had no energy."

If Sanikidze and Georgia are going to continue having success, they will have to do so under a new boss.

"The coach (Igor Kokoskov) is definitely done," Sanikidze said.

"I've spoken to him. We're all very thankful because he did a wonderful job and brought us two times to the European Championship.

"His job is well appreciated.

"Last summer, I think the president gave him some kind of medal, seriously. I'm not sure what it's called. I just wish him good luck wherever he goes.

"Great coach, good person and good friend."

The players in the Georgia team are close friends.

That's one reason why Sanikidze decided to play for CAI.

The team also has Georgia center Giorgi Shermadini.

"Giorgi being here, that's one of the reasons that I signed," Sanikidze said.

"It's always good to have a friend on the same team. It helps me a lot.

"He was here a few weeks earlier than me."

At the end of the season with CAI, Sanikidze will take a break before linking up again with Georgia again.

He looks forward to that day.

"It's the best thing," he said.

"We're so proud to play."

FIBA