Exclusive | Beqa Burjanadze: “Now We Don’t Want to Stop Dreaming”

In one of the most surprising and, at times, downright shocking editions of EuroBasket, Beqa Burjanadze has become one of its most symbolic figures. The all-around Georgian forward — who once played in Italy for Reggio Emilia — nailed a couple of clutch three-pointers against heavily favored France, helping ignite his team before they were carried across the finish line by the brilliant duo of Toko Shengelia (24 points, 8 rebounds) and Kamar Baldwin (24 points, 2 assists). It was a historic result for Georgia, a country that is now celebrating as it prepares to face Finland in the quarterfinals on Wednesday at 4 PM — another incredible underdog that stunned Serbia in the previous round.

Burjanadze, a historic win for Georgia against France — what are your feelings right now?
“It’s something incredible, I’d say amazing. Every one of us had a role in this win, and I think from the outside, it was great to see how we worked together, our resilience, and our will to never give up. This result means a lot for our country. Our initial goal was just to qualify — but now we don’t want to stop dreaming.”
Those threes you hit — especially the one from the corner — sparked the key run in the game.
"I just tried to take my chance, like all of my teammates did. We’re a united group, and that makes all the difference.”

 

Italy also had a strong, united team — but sadly, it wasn’t enough against a brilliant Luka Dončić and Slovenia...
“I watched the whole game, and it was really a shame. Even though they were trailing — sometimes by a lot — they still had a chance in the end. They showed great heart, but they just weren’t sharp or tough enough in the final minutes. I know it hurts now, but I see a bright future for your national team: you have a lot of talented young players. I saw that firsthand when we played against you.”
Who are you referring to?
“Definitely Saliou Niang, who is no longer just a surprise — and also Momo Diouf, my former teammate in Reggio Emilia. He’s improved so much, both offensively and defensively. Now he plays with total confidence, but I know it’s the result of impeccable work ethic — something he’s always had. I truly wish him the best.”

Let’s go back to Georgia — what makes your team so strong and determined?
“We’ve got all our families with us, and we have a whole country behind us. They give us incredible strength and make us believe we can do it every single time.”
Next up is Finland, led by the amazing Lauri Markkanen — but not only him…
“It’s going to be the toughest and most important game in our national team’s history — and I believe it’s the same for them. Finland is a perfect example of how a team should be: they play together, they’re solid, aggressive, and they never give up. Markkanen is obviously their leader and the first guy we’ll need to stop — but he’s not the only one who can make a difference. Offensively, we’ll need to rely on our strengths: physicality, resilience, and being smart down the stretch.”