Dubai Basketball eye playoffs after emphatic win in Bosnia
Dubai Basketball head coach Jurica Golemac was delighted after the team continued their relentless push for the top of the ABA League standings with a commanding 97-88 victory over Igokea m:tel. Playing away at Laktaši Sports Hall, the team wasted no time in pinning their authority on Bosnian soil, setting a new single-quarter scoring record for the season.
The win lifts Dubai Basketball to an impressive 24-5 record, keeping them firmly in the race for first with only one more round before playoffs. With just one win behind Partizan Mozzart Bet and Budućnost VOLI, a game in hand for the latter, the battle for the league's top spot remains yet to be secured.
Dubai Basketball exploded out of the gates on Saturday, delivering a first-quarter performance for the record books. The team put up a staggering 39 points in the opening 10 minutes, the highest-scoring quarter by any team this season, and built an early 20-point lead (4:24) by the fifth minute. The Bosnian side struggled to keep pace, and despite an effort to come back, the home team was unable to recover from Dubai's strong start.
'We came into the game with strong focus and executed exactly how we planned.' said Golemac after the game.
'It's a great feeling, but we know we have to stay locked in and keep building toward the playoffs. The goal is to keep analysing, improving every game, and making sure we are now ready for the most crucial part of the season.'
Leading the charge was Dubai's sharpshooter and ex-NBA star Davis Bertans, who put on a first-quarter show with 19 points, including a perfect 5-for-5 from three-point range. He finished the night with a total of 21 points, earning him the title of Man of the Match by the ABA League.
'I felt good out there,' Bertans reflected on his dominant night. 'My teammates found me in the right spots, and I was able to sink shots early. That gave us momentum, and from there, we just kept going. Now we come back to Dubai with just one more game to go before playoffs, feeling stronger and more determined than ever.'
With just one game remaining in the regular season, Dubai Basketball's focus now shifts to their final tie-up before the playoffs. A top-two finish remains within reach, hosting current league topper, Budućnost VOLI, at Coca-Cola Arena this Sunday, May 4.
Set to be one of the toughest matchups this season, Dubai Basketball fans are encouraged to rally in numbers and show their players what a home court advantage is really about! Fans can secure tickets for the game on the Coca-Cola Arena website.
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