By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Giorgi Shermadini explained why he would like to wrap up playing days at Lenovo Tenerife, shared his view on the Basketball Champions League Final Four to be held in Malaga between 12 and 14 May, and opened up on the historic occasion of representing Georgia in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Since joining Tenerife in 2019, he confirmed himself as a valuable player, connected with experienced point guard Marcelinho Huertas, and enjoyed individual and team accolades. Sticking around is the plan.
“Really, I feel good, personally and with the team. These last four seasons, we are playing very well, in the ACB and the BCL also,” he told Eurohoops, “We are all happy about everything.”
Navigating the fourth campaign marks the longest stint at one single club of his career. Quickly expanding outside Georgia to Greece, Italy, and Spain, he looks pretty comfortable in his current surroundings.
“I have been here for four years and I think I will stay for the rest of my career,” he shared the plan, “We don’t know how our future goes, but I want to finish my career here. I don’t know how many years I have left, maybe four, maybe five more years. But I want to finish here. I feel great in this club. When you feel good, everything is better.”
It has been a brilliant campaign so far for Shermadini, to say the least. Packing team-highs of 14.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest in the Champions League, using his experience has been a huge part of the success of the team coached by Txus Vidorreta. In addition, he is averaging 14.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game in Spain’s Liga Endesa.
Final Four time
The BCL Final Four welcomes three new teams to go with the defending champions. The Canary Islands outfit is the only side among remaining contenders with previous runs to the competition’s top four teams, not once or twice but three times, and set for the record-breaking fourth appearance. The team was drawn to face Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem with Telekom Baskets Bonn and Unicaja shaping the first semifinal.
With the Final Four pairings literally getting ready to appear in the background as Shermadini was checking his phone for an update on his side’s next opponent during the interview with Eurohoops, in joking fashion made clear that facing his former team Unicaja was far from the top of his list of priorities. The draw ultimately separated the team based in Malaga from his own, but simultaneously set up a potential championship game rematch.
“This season, we have played Unicaja many times,” he mentioned recalling past matchups including the narrow defeat in the 2023 Copa del Rey final, “They have played amazing. Unicaja is one of the top teams this season. They play very nice basketball.”
Besides the vast experience of Tenerife, Unicaja and the two other Final Four participants all progressed to the BCL Semifinals for the first time. The lone previous appearance in a season-ending tournament is limited to the Israeli club and the Quarterfinals exit in the 2020 Final Eight.
Enter the World Cup
Shermadini, 34, carried a long list of success, even before landing in San Cristobal de La Laguna. He helped Olympiacos win the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague in 2013 and was also a member of the Panathinaikos championship team in 2009. Beyond the club level, proudly representing Georgia led to participation in the 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2022 editions of EuroBasket. Heading to the 2023 World Cup puts the spotlight on his country for the first time at this stage.
“Big summer is coming for Georgia,” he told Eurohoops, “First time in the World Cup. Everyone is very excited. People are still very happy about what we did in the FIBA windows to qualify for the World Cup. This was a big big big achievement for us. Coach Ilias Zouros and Georgia Federation have already started working on planning for this summer, to have a good summer, preparation for these games. I think we will have a good team and can be competitive against every team. For sure, there are great teams with great players. But we also have great players like Shengelia, Bitadze, and Mamukelashvili. I think we can play good basketball.”
“The first round is important, for sure, even the first game. In every tournament, the first game is very important. If you win the first game, it gets better,” he added while anxiously awaiting the World Cup draw to be held in Manila on April 29.