
Epic action guaranteed at DOBA 2025 Finals
A thrilling conclusion lies ahead for Dubai Open for Basketball Academies [DOBA] Finals, with anticipation building for a triumphant Term 2's decisive clashes on June 4, 7 and 8.
Fans can expect an electric atmosphere and high-intensity action as teams from Under-10s to Under-19s across multiple divisions gear up for the ultimate showdown.
More than 420 games featuring boys and girls sides will have been held in front of an expected total attendance of over 42,000 between January and June in a tournament held under the patronage of Dubai Sports Council and UAE Basketball Association, with Sport360X and Sports Mania organising.
Underlining the rising popularity of youth basketball in the region, a significant growth in team participation across nearly all divisions has been further bolstered by major local clubs – Al Nasr, Sharjah, Al Hamriya and Shabab Al Ahli – playing a key role in elevating the level of competition.
Semi-final matchups alone drew nearly 200 spectators per game, showcasing the community's growing enthusiasm for witnessing basketball's rising starlets.
DOBA Finals tips off on Wednesday, June 4 at Etihad Private School Jumeirah with three key Division 1 matchups: JAM vs Champs (U10 Mixed, 5:00pm), Twenty Four White vs Falcons (U14 Boys, 6:30pm), and Twenty Four White vs Falcons Green (U16 Boys, 8:30pm).
On Saturday, June 7 at Al Nasr, Division 2 opens the day with Patriots vs JAM (U10 Mixed, 11:30am), followed by Champs vs NBA Clippers (U12 Boys, 1:00pm), then a Division 1 matchup between NBA Sky and JAM Pink (U12 Girls, 2:30pm), before closing with JAM Green vs Mowen (U14 Boys, 4:00pm), another Division 2 showdown.
Finals conclude on Sunday, June 8 at Al Nasr with an exciting five-game line-up: Mowen vs Champs (U12 Boys, Division 1, 11:00am), Champs vs NBA Liberty (U14 Girls, Division 1, 12:30pm), NBA Raptors vs JAM Phii (U16 Boys, Division 2, 2:00pm), JAM Pink vs NBA Spark (U16 Girls, Division 1, 4:00pm), and Falcons vs Wildcats (U19 Boys, Division 1, 6:00pm).
For full match details, visit the official website.
On the digital front, DOBA has seen a massive surge in online presence, achieving more than 2 million in reach across Instagram, Facebook and other platforms. This represented a 103% increase compared to Term 1.
We also extend heartfelt thanks to our sponsors: Anta, Fade Fit, Burjeel Hospital and Al Ain Water. Their support has been instrumental in enriching the player and fan experience, both on and off the court.
With the finals just days away, excitement is at a peak as teams prepare to battle for the championship titles. The energy is high, the stakes even higher – DOBA's courts are ready for a final clash before the summer break.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Gulf Today
a day ago
- Gulf Today
Pop singer Jessie J says she has been diagnosed with early breast cancer
The English pop singer Jessie J says she has been diagnosed with breast cancer and will undergo surgery after her performance at the London music festival Capital's Summertime Ball next weekend. Jessie J, 37, shared the news in an Instagram video on Wednesday. "I was diagnosed with early breast cancer,' she said in the clip. "Cancer sucks in any form, but I'm holding onto the word 'early'." "It's a very dramatic way to get a boob job. I am going to disappear for a bit after Summertime Ball to have my surgery, and I will come back with massive (expletive) and more music.' The annual Summertime Ball will be held at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, June 15. She told her social media audience that she felt compelled to share her diagnosis. "I just wanted to be open and share it,' she said. "One, because, selfishly, I do not talk about it enough. I'm not processing it because I'm working so hard. I also know how much sharing in the past has helped me with other people giving me their love and support and also their own stories. I'm an open book. It breaks my heart that so many people are going through so much similar and worse - that's the bit that kills me.' The Grammy-nominated Jessie J has long been celebrated for her robust soprano and R&B-informed pop hits, like the 2014 collaboration with Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande, "Bang Bang,' and 2011's "Domino.' She has released five albums across her career, most recently, 2018's Christmas album, "This Christmas Day.' She has been releasing new music in 2025, including the singles "Living My Best Life' and "No Secrets.' A new album is expected later this year. She has a son, Sky Safir Cornish Colman, born in 2023. A representative for Jessie J did not immediately respond to The Associated Press' request for comment. Associated Press


Gulf Today
a day ago
- Gulf Today
Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty relives ‘Dhadkan' magic on London streets
Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty recently took a trip down memory lane as she stumbled upon a heartwarming moment on the streets of London. The 'Hungama 2' actress posted a video capturing a street performer playing the soulful tune of her iconic track 'Dil Ne Yeh Kaha Hain Dil Se' from her blockbuster movie 'Dhadkan.' Clearly moved, Shilpa recorded the scene while panning the camera to show the performer and the bustling surroundings — reliving the magic of one of her most memorable film moments. Shilpa also turned the camera toward herself, smiling and swaying gently to the melody, visibly enjoying the tune that once defined a major chapter of her film career. Sharing the clip on her Instagram stories, she wrote, 'Surprises #Londondiaries.' 'Dhadkan,' released in 2000, was directed by Dharmesh Darshan and produced by Ratan Jain. The romantic musical drama also featured Suniel Shetty, Akshay Kumar, and Mahima Chaudhry in leading roles. Seasoned actors like Sharmila Tagore, Anupam Kher, Parmeet Sethi, Kiran Kumar, Sushma Seth, and Manjeet Kullar appeared in supporting roles.'Dhadkan' remains one of Shilpa Shetty's most beloved and iconic films. Her portrayal of Anjali, caught in a whirlwind of love, duty, and sacrifice, earned her immense praise and continues to be remembered by audiences as one of her most emotionally resonant performances. The film not only solidified her place in Bollywood's mainstream cinema but also gave her some of the most memorable moments of her career. Meanwhile, the 49-year-old actress was last seen in the action-packed web series 'Indian Police Force,' helmed by Rohit Shetty and Sushwanth Prakash. Up next, Shilpa is gearing up for her role in the Kannada action drama 'KD — The Devil,' directed by Prem. The film features an impressive ensemble cast, including Dhruva Sarja, Reeshma Nanaiah, V. Ravichandran, Ramesh Aravind, Nora Fatehi, and Sanjay Dutt. Meanwhile, Shilpa took to social media to show what keeps her going, even on the busiest of days. As Shetty wrapped up her last working day before heading off on vacation, the actress shared a dose of motivation with her followers. Taking to Instagram, the 'Dhadkan' actress posted a fun reel of herself wherein she is seen expressing her excitement through dance and goofy expressions. The hilarious clip begins with Shilpa dressed in a nightsuit, then cuts to her in sporty athleisure, working out in the washroom in a playful, funny style. Shilpa Shetty is very active on Instagram, often sharing glimpses of her fitness routine — from intense workout sessions and yoga flows to her light-hearted 'Sunday Binge' moments. Notably, the actress also frequently gives shout-outs to her husband Raj Kundra and recently penned a heartfelt note appreciating him for his work on the project 'The Traitors.' 'The Traitors,' India's adaptation of the widely acclaimed psychological reality format, was officially launched on May 30 in a grand event, with filmmaker Karan Johar confirmed as its host. Raj Kundra grabbed the attention at the trailer launch with his transformation. Indo-Asian News Service


Al Etihad
a day ago
- Al Etihad
FIFA World Cup qualifier: UAE draw fails to stop Uzbekistan seal historic entry to Finals
6 June 2025 00:32 KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)The eve of Eid Al Adha did not bring the sweets the UAE desired in a 0-0 result in Abu Dhabi against Uzbekistan in a crucial match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifying stage on Thursday. Needing a point to secure one of two automatic berths from Group A to the Finals in United States, Mexico and Canada, the second-placed Uzbekistan got what they needed after more than 90 minutes of action against the third-placed UAE at Al Wahda's Al Nahyan Cosmin Olaroiu's men hoped their rivals, also an Islam-dominated nation, would succumb to butterflies in their stomachs ahead of a historic first entry to the Finals stage, it did not UAE will now have to head to the next stage of qualifying where chances get slimmer. In anticipation of the difficult road, and manager Olaroiu having been parachuted into this game as a late replacement for Paulo Bento, the UAE fans unfurled huge banners of support which read: 'Dreams Will Come True' and 'We Trust You Guys'.For the strategists, UAE could have started aggressively or played a cautious hand at first. They seemed to have gone for the latter, even when there was early trouble for Uzbekistan when Farrukh Safyiev experienced groin or hamstring problems. He tried to come back but on his first touch again experienced discomfort and had to be replaced with Abbosbek Fayzullaev. In a dull first half, UAE showed more flair but not the finishing skills to boot. Seeing their hesitation or struggles, Uzbekistan made couple of forays, but the defenders and goalkeeper Khalid Eissa proved to alert through the match. If any indication was needed about the intent, the UAE started with a wing formation of 4-2-3-1 while Uzbekistan organised themselves in a diamond pattern with 3-4-2-1 making moves from the middle of the pitch scarce to come the breather, there was an immediate show of intent from the UAE with Caio Canedo attempting a weak shot and hoping to find the goalkeeper wrong-footed, in vain. Soon after, Uzbekistan had a counter threat saved by the crossbar. If the pace of the first 10 minutes raised hopes of a momentum shift, it proved to be a false past the hour mark, Olaroiu swaps out Ali Saleh with Yahya Al Ghassani, who came with many sprinting bursts but his colleagues were not in sync with him. And then, expectedly, Uzbekistan players started time-wasting tactics and cramping up to break the flow of the game. Uzbekistan got the draw they wanted, with a game to spare, however scrappy the point came. Meanwhile, the UAE play Kyrgyzstan next in their final group game, the away game mostly to stay firm in third or fourth place. Olariou and his men will now need to start also gearing up for the next round of play-offs where the middle teams of three groups will churn to get two teams into the funnel. The UAE remain in hope, that dreams will come true.