Mamu's motivation: Do whatever it takes for Georgia

OKINAWA (Japan) - Sandro Mamukelashvili wasn't even in his teens when Georgia achieved history by qualifying to the FIBA EuroBasket for the first time ever in 2011.

"DEFINITELY GONNA COME OUT THERE AND PLAY A HUNDRED AND FIFTY PERCENT ON THE FLOOR AND TRY TO DO AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO PUT GEORGIA ON THE MAP."

But he knew what that meant for the whole program - for the country even - and he has taken as much to heart as he's fully embraced the responsibility of representing flag.

"It is a very, very big responsibility. I'm very excited to be here. In 2011 everything started, and those guys built everything year by year, and I'm part of this team," said 'Mamu.'

"Definitely an honor," added the 24-year-old.

"Those guys" were the likes of Toko Shengelia, who, along with center Giorgi Shermadini, was part of the lineup that formed Georgia's maiden EuroBasket voyage.

The two are now among the national team veterans, serving as all-knowing sages to the younger ones to make sure that the culture and tradition they helped build stays intact.

"We know we have a great captain in Toko who kinda holds everything down," he said.

"He brings that roughness and tough mindset from those years because he was here. He's just a great leader to be around. He's a great inspirational guy, with him, his history, his knowledge."

Fans have seen that leadership in display as Toko has clearly been the team's leader in Okinawa. When he falls down and gets up even a second slower than usual, you feel the sense of urgency within the team. When he's fired up after a made basket, you can see the level of energy raised from all players on the floor all the way to the end of the bench.

Yes, that's what has been seen here in Okinawa where Georgia have been playing against the likes of Slovenia, Venezuela, and Cape Verde as a part of the World Cup - their first World Cup ever.

So even though Georgia became a fixture in the continental tilt that is EuroBasket over the past decade, they have refused to settle.

They wrote history once more by making it to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 by way of the European Qualifiers to march to their very first appearance in the global showpiece.

It is an achievement which the present-day flagbearers like Mamukelashvili himself takes immense pride in a it serves as their very own contribution to the program.

"Very special," he said.

"Just to think that there are three and half, four million Georgian people in the world and we made it to the World Cup coming out of Europe ... it's an honor and a blessing," he added.

The San Antonio Spurs big man feels confident, too, of their capabilities to compete in the 2023 World Cup, believing that their size especially up front would make a difference.

"We have unbelievable bigs. We have Toko who can be a point forward, I can be a point forward, Goga [Bitadze] can be a stretch big who's very, very hard to guard, and then we have Shermo [Giorgi Shemadini] who's unbelievable inside, his hook shot is unguardable," he offered.

"So I feel like us, with the guards and a couple of guys who can shoot, it will make a big difference," added Mamukelashvili, who's been with the national team since 2018.

So far, they've proven as much. With their big men on the forefront, Georgia have surprised the competition as they went 2-1 in Group F to advance to the Second Round.

The 31-year-old Shengelia has been leading the way thus far with 16.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. Mamukelashvili and fellow NBA player Goga Bitadze are both averaging 11.0 points for a team that's making 53.8-percent of their shots from inside the arc and hauling down 40.0 rebounds.

"I think the biggest advantage for us is the bigs," said Mamukelashvili.

Mamukelashvili himself has become integral for Coach Ilias Zouros. Shooting 56-percent from the floor and averaging 6.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists as well, the 2.08 M (6'8") forward has shown he can also play the five effectively while also being able to stretch the floor if need be.

"Outside scoring, kinda being a mismatch," he said. "If they switch, I can go in the post, or I can be on the perimeter. I feel like just that, and also my heart. I play with my heart out every game, I compete, and Imma try to get as many rebounds as possible."

"I will just try to help the team wherever they need me," he added, "to but I feel like my strong suit is being a mismatch and trying to be a big wing, big guard."

Georgia are not finished yet. The team takes on Dennis Schroder and the unbeaten Germany (3-0) in the Second Round on Friday night at the Okinawa Arena, keen on, of course, continuing their dream run with a win.

"Definitely gonna come out there and play a hundred and fifty percent on the floor, and try to do as much as possible to put Georgia on the map," Mamukelashvili said.

FIBA