The basketball team of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University “TSU Hyundai” starts the season with the renewed roster and new goals. With the help of Hyundai Auto Georgia, three legionnaires from American Students Basketball League were added to the TSU Basketball Team. On January 26, TSU and the team’s general sponsor, Hyundai Auto Georgia signed a Memorandum of Cooperation.
The Memorandum was signed by Rector of TSU, Giorgi Sharvashidze and Director of Hyundai Auto Georgia, Davit Giorgobiani.
Rector Sharvashidze said that “it is a very important day for the university’s basketball life; two teams – TSU team and Hyundai team have amalgamated. We believe that this cooperation will yield very positive results. Three legionnaires were added to the team from the United States Student Association. So, there are great and good perspectives. Generally, we support any activities aimed at popularizing healthy lifestyle and sport,” Giorgi Sharvashidze said.
Director of Hyundai Auto Georgia, Davit Giorgobiani said that Hyundai Auto Georgia is actively involved in the basketball life. “We have a sport school and we have been participating in all-age championships for years. Cooperation with the Tbilisi State University is a new perspective for us and I think that this cooperation will be very successful,” Davit Giorgobiani said.
The Memorandum is the basis for establishing partner relations between the parties; rendering assistance in basketball development; sharing knowledge and experience in sport management. Within the framework of the Memorandum, the parties will cooperate to ensure the development of the club and its successful participation in the national championships organized by the Georgian Basketball Federation.
“I am glad that I represent the basketball team of the Tbilisi State University, which is really a good team. We plan to work hard and win a victory in A-League. I believe that our team has a huge chance of success,” American legionnaire and member of the TSU Basketball Team, Christopher Anderson said.
The TSU Basketball Team has been in existence since 1924. The following persons have played for the team at various times: Nodar Jorjikia, Mikheil Kekelidze, Suliko Tortladze and others. After the restoration of Georgia’s independence, the TSU Basketball Team was competing in the Georgian Basketball Super League till 2014. The team’s best seasons in the league were 2009-10 and 2010-11, when it reached the play-off finals. The club won the Korkia-Sakandelidze Memorial tournament in 2011. Since 2014 the team has been competing in A-League and plans to move to the Super League by the end of this season. Nine members of the team are playing in the Georgian national under-20 basketball team.
