Dubai Basketball coach urges fans to show up in force for must-win Partizan match
Dubai Basketball need a much-improved performance when they face Partizan at home on Thursday after being soundly beaten 102-72 in the first of their best-of-three play-off semi-final on Monday.
Sterling Brown scored a game-leading 21 points while Duane Washington chipped in with 19 points to the Partizan cause. Davis Bertans top-scored for Dubai with 17.
Dubai head coach Jurica Golemac conceded seven-time ABA League champions Partizan deserved their victory in Belgrade, and urged home fans to show up in force for Game 2 at Coca-Cola Arena on Thursday.
'The better team won today,' Golmac said. 'We lost possession too easily and committed too many turnovers to stay competitive at this level. But this team has character, and we've already proven we can compete with the best – including a win over Partizan at home. We'll go back, analyse the game, regroup, and come out stronger."
Dubai are the only team to have beaten Partizan in their debut season, seeing off the Serbian club 80-72 in Round 23.
The nascent franchise booked their place in the semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Cedevita Olimpija.
'We need our fans more than ever," Golemac added. "Their energy and support at Coca-Cola Arena can make a real difference. We're proud of how far we've come, but we're not done yet – and we want to take this journey forward with the whole city behind us.'
The Serbian side took control of the game from the outset, showing why the Stark Arena is one of the most intimidating venues in European basketball. Partizan took advantage of Dubai's dysfunction to lead 28-20 in the first quarter. They were 53-33 up at the halfway mark and were never really troubled.
In the other semi-final play-off, Buducnost Voli of Montenegro outclassed Serbia's Crvena Zvezda 104-70.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
2 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
French Open: Defending champion Alcaraz cruises into last four
Reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz glided into the semifinals of Roland Garros on Tuesday, blowing away American 12th seed Tommy Paul for the loss of just five games in the night session on Court Philippe Chatrier. The Spaniard needed just one hour 34 minutes to dismantle former world number nine Paul 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 and set up a last-four meeting with Italy's Lorenzo Musetti. Musetti, seeded eighth, earlier beat Paul's compatriot and 15th seed Frances Tiafoe in four sets. It will be the third time Alcaraz and Musetti meet this clay-court season. Alcaraz has dominated that series, beating the Italian in the final in Monte Carlo before also stopping him in the last four on his way to the Rome title. And the 22-year-old's blistering performance under the lights on centre court in Paris will have many backing him to make it three from three against Musetti as he seeks to defend his title. "It was, I could close my eyes and everything went in, my feeling today was amazing. Today was one of those matches where everything went in, I'm just pleased with everything," said Alcaraz. Alcaraz fired 40 winners on his way to victory over Paul for just 22 unforced errors as he emphatically put inconsistent displays in the previous rounds behind him. "This kind of match is never easy," he said. "I've played Tommy many times and he's beat me twice." Despite previous success against Alcaraz, it took the 28-year-old American eight games to get on the scoreboard as his opponent raced out of the blocks, mixing powerful groundstrokes with perfectly-weighted drop-shots and lobs. Paul put up determined resistance in the third set but couldn't deny Alcaraz, who broke in the ninth game before holding to love for victory. "I know you wanted to watch more tennis," an apologetic Alcaraz told the crowd on centre court. "I have to say sorry for that. But I had to do my work." Paul has now lost his last four meetings with Alcaraz, including at the same venue last year in the last eight of the Olympic Games.
Khaleej Times
5 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Look: Dubai homes, cafes transform into mini stadiums for IPL finals
Cricket fever swept through Dubai on Tuesday evening as residents transformed their homes into lively mini stadiums to watch the thrilling IPL finals. With massive screens, themed decor, and an atmosphere charged with excitement, families, friends, and colleagues gathered to celebrate the culmination of two months of intense cricket action. One of the standout celebrations was hosted by Dubai businessman Anis Sajan, vice chairman at Danube Group, who turned his home into a stadium-like setting for the IPL finals screening. With a massive screen and IPL-themed decor reflecting the spirit of the game, Sajan welcomed guests, including family and colleagues, to cheer on their favorite teams. The energy was palpable, with spectators jumping to their feet for every boundary and wicket. RCB fans, in particular, rallied behind their star player, Virat Kohli, while supporters of Punjab added to the friendly banter. 'IPL is like a celebration of a festival, and that too for two months. In this continuous celebration, we have to celebrate grandly in Dubai. When it comes to RCB, they are my favourites, and the reason is Virat Kohli,' said Sajan, who is also known as Mr Cricket UAE. 'We had great enthusiasm among the spectators at home today, some rooting for RCB, while others rooted for Punjab. Whichever team wins doesn't matter. Cricket wins at the end of the day," he added. Sattar Ahmed, one of the guests, said, 'Watching the match here felt like being in the stadium itself. Everyone was on their feet for every six and wicket. 'The energy is always next level. You don't just watch the match, you feel every moment of it when we watch it together,' he added. Cafes, restaurants see heavy crowd While private screenings lit up homes across the city, public venues were no less charged. Cafes and restaurants across Dubai, especially in popular spots like Tecom, Jumeirah, and Karama, reported full houses, with many patrons having made reservations days in advance. At Fisherman's Hub in Tecom, the mood was nothing short of electrifying. 'It felt like a mini stadium here. We are all rooting for RCB as we all have lived in Bangalore for a long time,' said Suraj, who watched the match with his friends. 'The place was packed, and every time a six was hit, the entire cafe erupted in cheers.' 'It's a weekday, and we all have our engagements. But we had decided to watch the match at a sports bar or a cafe. I am so glad we made it, and we are having a good time together after ages,' added Suraj. Meanwhile, Mariam Mustafa, a mother of two from Delhi, shared her excitement after watching the game at Moon Mood Cafe in Oud Metha. She came with extended family and friends to make the most of the final match. "There was an electrifying atmosphere. Strangers were high-fiving, cheering together, and even arguing over DRS decisions like they were family.' 'We had watched all the Punjab matches at home, but this time, it was great to watch it in a cafe surrounded by others. Irrespective of who wins, I can't believe we'll have to wait another 10 months for this kind of cricketing entertainment," she added.
Khaleej Times
5 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
From Speed to Swing: Trailblazing golfer-racer Bao drives Legends Tour back home
For Nguyễn Gia Bảo, golf has always been more than a game. It's a way to stay rooted in her heritage, dream beyond borders, and inspire change - especially for the next generation of players. This November, all those threads will come together in one powerful moment as Vietnam prepares to host one of the most prestigious senior golf events in the world: the Legends Championship Vietnam 2025. The European Senior Tour event for professionals aged 50 and over returns to Vietnam from 28–30 November, two years after its inaugural staging in Southeast Asia. Bao played a key role in helping bring the tournament back to her home country, working closely with the Legends Tour team from her base in Dubai to support its return. While Bao originally came to support the event in 2023, she unexpectedly found herself on the course, playing alongside the very legends she once admired from afar. 'I was just there to meet the legends,' she recalls. 'Then suddenly, I was offered a slot by the President of the Legends Tour himself... Honestly, I was afraid — my handicap was higher, and I felt pressure representing Vietnam on a live global stage. But their belief in me gave me the courage to say yes.' That moment, playing alongside major champions and Ryder Cup icons, was a turning point. But for Bao, who has spent over 17 years in the game, it was also a continuation of a lifelong journey. A Dubai-based entrepreneur and passionate sportswoman, Bao plays her golf at the Emirates Golf Club, where she continues to compete in regional amateur events. She is also the founder of The Golf House Vietnam, an academy focused on developing grassroots golf in her home country, which she plans to open in Dubai in the future. Bao the Trailblazer Beyond golf, Bao is a trailblazer. She became Vietnam's first female professional race car driver, representing the country at the FIA Motorsport Games in France in 2022 - a remarkable pivot from her early fear of speed to competing internationally in a male-dominated sport. Her journey began as a personal challenge, evolving into professional training across Europe and the U.S., and eventually reaching the global stage. 'If you want to be a warrior, then be a warrior,' she says. 'You just need the will inside you. Golf can teach you that kind of strength.' Her golfing resume includes standout victories at the Mercedes Championship Vietnam in 2013 and 2016, and a divisional win at the World Mercedes British Open in 2017. Most recently, she finished Top 3 in the Best Amateur category at the 2023 Legends event. Bao's vision for Vietnam's golfing future is shaped by her wide-ranging experiences - from her years on the fairways to breaking barriers on the racetrack. With success in business, including ventures in leather footwear and furniture export, she exemplifies the kind of multidimensional resilience she hopes to pass on. 'I want to help create golfers with the spirit of warriors - not just technique, but the perseverance and mindset to succeed. That's how we grow the game in Vietnam,' she concludes.
