Georgia opened its EuroBasket 2025 campaign with a 83–69 victory over defending champion Spain on Thursday in Limassol, Cyprus. Forward Sandro Mamukelashvili paced the Georgians with 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists, while Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze added 15 points and five boards. The Group C contest at the Spyros Kyprianou Arena was decided on the glass, where Georgia dominated 46–29. Spain, coached by Sergio Scariolo and carrying seven consecutive European podium finishes, struggled offensively and trailed for much of the second half despite a brief rally early in the fourth quarter. The loss puts immediate pressure on the titleholders, who face Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday to keep their knockout-round hopes on track. Georgia, which arrived at the tournament winless in its warm-up games, takes early control of Group C and will meet Italy next. The top four teams in each of the four preliminary groups advance to the round of 16, with the championship scheduled for 14 September in Riga, Latvia.