5th round of the Superleague started today in Rustavi. Rustavi’s team, who has a great roster and a big ambition, hosted Kutaisi today and lost in a tense battle – 69:72. Denzel Livingston, American legionnaire of Rustavi, shot a ball in a decisive moment, missed it and Kutaisi gained the victory. It was Kutaisi’s second victory after 4 matches. Rustavi has 1 victory and 2 loses.
The hosts started very well with an advantage of 7 points – 22:15, but they weren’t able to continue such effectively and Kutaisi was given a chance to equalize the score at the end of the first period – 22:22. Both teams changed defensive tactic from the second period, the number of mistakes increased as well and in the first five minutes of the second period Kutaisi scored just 3 points, while Rustavi had – 2. Kutaisi advanced 25:24.
However, the guests showed more accuracy throughout the quarter and won it by 6 points – 12:6. Rustavi wasn’t able to tie the game, which was due to Kutaisi’s effective defense. The leadership of Kutaisi reached 16 points in the middle of the third period.
Rustavi started fight for survival, which continued until the last seconds. At the expense of the effectiveness of Denzel Livingston and Oto Pkhakadze, the hosts reduced the difference to 2 points and gained the right for the final attack, but Livingston missed the decisive ball and Kutaisi got a 2-points victory.
Giorgi Barbaqadze led the winners with 17 points and 9 rebounds. Shawn Roundtree and Milos Pajovic scored 14-14 points each. Beqa Beqauri contributed 13 points and 9 rebounds. Livingston was the most effective with 24 points in Rustavi. Ilia Londaridze had 12 points.
Next 2 matches of the third round will be held tomorrow at Tbilisi Olympic Palace: Cactus – Batumi at 14:00 and Olimpi – TSU at 16:00.
