Facing Raduljica, Zirbes helps Bitadze become big future hope for Georgia

BELGRADE (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - One of the best ways for a young player to develop is to battle against some of the best in the business.

That is exactly what Goga Bitadze is going through in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers as the teenage Georgian talent faces some of the top centers on the continent.

Bitadze - who will only turn 19 on July 2 - made his senior national team debut during the November window, when Georgia lost 79-70 against Germany and 105-87 versus Serbia - both games on the road.

In both clashes, Bitadze went at it against high quality centers.

Against Germany and the pair of Maik Zirbes and Isaiah Hartenstein, Bitadze picked up 4 points on 1-of-4 shooting and a pair of free throws, to go with 3 rebounds, 1 block and 1 assist before fouling out after 17 minutes of action.

"It was my first official game, and I can't say that I played well," Bitadze said of his international debut. "Zirbes is a really experienced center and it was really hard to guard him because of his size."

The job didn't get any easier for the Sagarejo native in his second game against Serbia and their former NBA center Miroslav Raduljica.

Raduljica collected 28 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and a block in 30 minutes. For his part, Bitadze did do a bit better than in his opening game, putting up 8 points on 2-of-10 shots and 3-of-8 from the free throw line, along with 4 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal and committed 3 fouls in 21 minutes.

"Raduljica was really hard to guard but he is a top level center and has big experience of playing against top level guys," Bitadze said about facing the Serbian star.

"OF COURSE IT'S BIG FOR ME TO PLAY FOR MY COUNTRY AND HELP THEM TO PLAY GOOD GAMES. IT'S REALLY A BIG HONOR AND I'M REALLY HAPPY" BitadzeBitadze

The opening games on the Road to China 2019 weren't the first time that Bitadze was with Georgia's national setup. The 6ft 11in (2.10m) center was with the team during their summer at the FIBA EuroBasket 2017, but couldn’t play because of a calf ligament injury.

He did however get a chance to see first hand how veterans such as Zaza Pachulia, Tornike Shengelia, Manuchar Markoishvili, Giorgi Shermandini, George Tsintsadze and Anatoli Boisa act at a major tournament.

"I learned a lot on and off the court about things such as controlling your emotions and how to behave," Bitadze said.

Injured and unable to play at FIBA EuroBasket 2017, Bitadze was able to closely study Pachulia in action

He also watched how top-level centers Pachulia and Shermandini going to work at his position.

"You see how to be competitive every game and do your best every single game and of course also a lot of basketball stuff," Bitadze said about what he learned from watching the veteran leaders last summer.

Even though Bitadze didn't play, the 33-year-old veteran Pachulia was full of praise of the youngster.

"He's really a rising star. His future is bright if he continues to work hard," Pachulia said. "Hopefully he's going to learn and it will be an amazing experience for him because, you know what, I'll be out and he's in. He's next. That's how it goes. When I was young I learned from my vets and I will try to pay that back with some of my young guys."

After having to watch first hand Georgia bow out in the group stage of the EuroBasket last summer, Bitadze was that much more excited about getting on the court in the Qualifiers.

"Of course it's big for me to play for my country and help them to play good games. It's really a big honor, and I'm really happy," said Bitadze, who plays professionally with Serbian team Mega Bemax Belgrade.

"HE'S REALLY A RISING STAR. HIS FUTURE IS BRIGHT IF HE CONTINUES TO WORK HARD. HE'S NEXT. THAT'S HOW IT GOES. WHEN I WAS YOUNG I LEARNED FROM MY VETS AND I WILL TRY TO PAY THAT BACK WITH SOME OF MY YOUNG GUYS" PachuliaPachulia

After the first two Qualifiers on the road, the second window will start with a third road game against Austria on February 22 before the Georgians finally play at home on February 24 against Germany.

"I really can't wait to play in that atmosphere," he said. "I think it's gonna be really good in Georgia. People love basketball and I think it will be a perfect atmosphere to play a really good game."

Bitadze appreciates the ideal of the new Competition System to bring the national teams to the fans.

"It's really important," he said. "I think everybody wants to see their teams and players playing on home court."

Looking ahead to the next window, Bitadze said: "As I see it, we have to keep doing things like we have and fortune will come, and we'll be successful. We're expecting to get at least one win."

And Bitadze will get some more lessons on his way to improvement.

FIBA