Yesterday FC Barcelona faced Bennet Cantu in the first round of the Euroleague Top16. At italian side, two georgian players shining in a great level: Giorgi Shermadini and Manuchar Markoishvili. But prospects of that country are showing the upside of next generation. Behind Tornike Shengelia (Charleroi) we can find players like Duda Sanadze ('92). The 6'5'' guard, currently in Dinamo Tbilisi, tried the canarian adventure last season (CBA), but came back home and is one of the best Superleague players with 15.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists in only 29 minutes. Two summers ago he finished as the third best scorer (18.7) of the U18 Division "B" European Championship in Tel-Aviv (Israel), while some months ago promoted to U20 Division "A" after winning the Gold at the second level in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Eurohopes talked with him.   

 

-What do you expect of this season?
My main goal for this season is to become a member of the senior national team.

 

-How can you see the level of young players in your country?
In Georgia the level of youth basketball players is getting higher, because a lot of foreigners started to play in our country and we learn a lot of each other.

 

-You spent some time in Canarias Basketball Academy (CBA). Why did you go there?
I went there because I want to go to the United States. I knew that CBA was one of the best basketball academies in Europe, so I thought that it would help me to improve as a player. But unfortunetely I encountered  some problems with my visa. And I came back.

 

-From the distance, how do you see Georgia competing this summer in the U20 Division "A" European Championship?
We don't have that strong team in U20 Division "A" Championship to fight for the title, but we will try to do our best.

 

Photo: FIBA Europe