RIGA (Latvia) - When Georgia played a first-ever FIBA EuroBasket in 2011, Tornike Shengelia was there.
When Georgia found an unprecedented qualification to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, Sandro Mamukelashvili was there. Lining up longside his more experienced countryman.
Now, they're both headlining the white-and-red Caucasian expedition on the Baltic Sea. Their past experiences rocking their unique nation's jersey tells a good story that only now needs a better ending.
First Georgian beginnings
Since gaining independence from the Soviet Union back in 1993, basketball struggled to reach high peaks in Georgia. However, in 2011 something switched and turned things around.
A 19-year-old forward was on board for his country's first-ever EuroBasket.
"[I remember] the proud feeling of finally being in a position to represent the country, which I had been dreaming of since I was a young boy," Shengelia recalled.
While he was starting to climb up the Georgian basketball ladders, young countrymen all over the Sakartvelo region were witnessing it from their respective homes, hoping to emulate his accomplishments in the future.
One of them knew he could do it - one day.
He was growing up in a highly-talented family - his grandmother Ira Gabashvili was a successful basketball player and his aunt Eteri Andjaparidze ended up being a famous noted pianist.
"I do remember a lot", stated Alexander 'Sandro' Mamukelashvili when recalling that first prestigious tournament played by his country when just 12 years of age.
I'm here to win, to compete, to show everybody that Georgians have a big heart - Mamukelashvili
"I remember Toko [Shengelia] had a couple of good dunks in there. Back then, he was even faster and more athletic than he is now.
!We had Zaza [Pachulia], we had Viktor [Sanikidze]. I used to watch every game with my dad, every day," he enthused.
From that moment, Georgia has never failed to qualify, making it to four straight FIBA EuroBaskets (2013, 2015, 2017, 2022). More importantly, they achieved another milestone.
Putting the country on the global map
In an incredible fashion, despite losing 80-77 to Iceland in Tbilisi, Georgia still qualified for the first time in the country's history for the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Tornike Shengelia was there and remembers that day like it was yesterday.
"The buzzer sound and me falling backward, with the whole team jumping on me. I will never forget that feeling for the rest of my life and I will always cherish that moment," he stated.
The literal closing of the circle. Or maybe the semi-circle.
"When I came here as a young boy, I had two dreams: I wanted to put my country as the captain in the World Cup and in the Olympics. When the first of those came true, it was a great moment for the whole country", he added.
Unable to provide a contribution on the floor, Mamukelashvili watched from the other side of the Ocean.
He recalled: "I was in Milwaukee back then and we had a game. I watched it during our game.
"I wasn't playing and I was trying to keep up. After the end of the game, once we qualified, I was running around and telling everybody we actually made it to the [FIBA Basketball] World Cup. I was so proud of the guys!"
In 12 years, Shengelia realized "how far we have come". When they first got the news of having made it to EuroBasket, everybody was "shocked and happy".
He continued: "We were jumping, hugging each other, and just sharing this amazing moment."
Success on a big stage like this means the world to us. - Shengelia
Yet something even brighter could be on the horizon.
"Now we're in a position to have a chance to play the Olympics," shared the Georgian national team's captain.
"It just tells you that the work we've all been putting in paid off so far. Hopefully, it's gonna pay off even more."
Moreover, this has also been the summer of an impressive impact by the Georgia football team at Euro 2024 - only losing to trophy-favorites Spain in the Round of 16. The whole country celebrated this outstanding achievement - and so did their basketball peers.
"Football started off great this summer for us, we're so proud of them. It's our turn to go out there and compete", Mamukelashvili said.
Shengelia added: "We're very proud people. We understand we're coming from a very small country. The success on a big stage like this means the world to us."
Tbilisi has been covered by happiness, but might this soon become a golden era for Georgian sport?
"I don't wanna say this is a one-in-a-lifetime moment, but surely a first-in-a-lifetime moment," considered Shengelia.
"If we go step by step, thinking about what we have in front and take care of it, I believe in the end we're gonna achieve the goal."
Passing the torch
After two summers together, representing their country at FIBA EuroBasket 2022 and the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, the bond between the San Antonio Spurs' 25-year-old upcoming gem and Virtus Bologna's 32-year-old veteran is stronger than ever.
Maybe especially because the first reminds the second of his younger self.
"I love Sandro because he's seeking to learn. It's not only me going to him, telling and teaching him. But he's always asking.
"He reminds me of myself when I was younger, my first years in the national team. I was just asking for everything. That's also how Sandro is", he revealed.
As a young kid, you grow up watching the national team play every summer and you dream of being there. - Mamukelashvili
"For me, he's a young brother. When the time comes I'm gonna pass the torch to the young guys. I wanna be able to say that I'm relaxed because I know that I've passed them the information and knowledge I had, knowing they're gonna take care of business. Laying the foundations for the future: that's the whole goal" he revealed.
On the other side, there's not only appreciation, but deep admiration. "[Tornike Shengelia] is definitely a mentor. A big brother, who I look up to. Every time I need advice I can call him, he's always available. I would say he's definitely the heart and soul of this team, a leader."
He continued: "When you have a leader who's so involved, so into it, and so passionate about playing for the national team, it motivates everybody and gives you a great example.
"He's unbelievable, so skilled, so talented. A very passionate competitor. On and off the court I can learn so much from him. I'm happy to be around him."
Averaging a double-double of 15.1 points and 11.0 rebounds in his first-ever International tournament representing his country at FIBA EuroBasket 2022, he has made his presence felt since day one.
Wearing that jersey is indeed something else. "As a young kid, you grow up watching the national team play every summer and you dream of being there. It's an honor, a privilege, something I do with my whole heart. I just want to go out there, compete, fight, and represent my country", he proudly stated.
Having to overcome the home-crowd favorites since the beginning, debuting against Latvia in Arena Riga at the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Mamukelashvili came here with a specific purpose.
"I'm here to win, to compete, to show everybody that Georgians have a big heart. You never know what the outcome of the game is gonna be, but we know one thing: every guy who's here right now is gonna go out there and play until their last breath", he stated.
It's the time of a lifetime for Georgia, concretely tasting the possibility of writing an unbelievable paragraph about the country's sporting history.
With Shengelia leading by experience and Mamukelashvili eager to succeed, Tbilisi is watching with heightened anticipation.
FIBA