Dubai Basketball make history with semis berth on ABA League debut
22 May 2025 01:33
DUBAI (ALETIHAD)The history-making Dubai Basketball team extended their giant-killing run by winning the decider against Cedevita Olimpija in Game 3 of their quarter-final in the ABA League on Tuesday night.Ranked third in the regulation league and going up against the sixth-placed rivals from Slovenia, Dubai Basketball booked a spot among the last four on home turf with a dominant 85-76 victory at the Coca-Cola Arena.In their debut year of competing in the league, Dubai Basketball have now set up a clash with Serbian giants Partizan in a best-of-three semi-final series, beginning on May 26 in Belgrade before heading to Dubai for the second leg on May 29.Dubai Basketball got home advantage by virtue of finishing ahead of their opponents but only managed a narrow one-point victory and against the formidable showing in the league. That was followed by a 89-94 defeat to send the heart of UAE fans skipping a beat.In what was their most decisive game of the season yet, Dubai then came out firing from tip-off, controlling the tempo and momentum from the first whistle. Closing the first quarter eight points ahead they never looked back.The breakthrough came in the early minutes of the second quarter. With disciplined defence and swift ball movement, Dubai surged to an 11-point lead with only half of the second quarter to play – marking the game's turning point. Cedevita Olimpija struggled to recover from the early deficit, unable to regain control or close the gap for the remainder of the match.Leading the charge was Nate Mason, once again proving himself as the team's top scorer for the night. The point guard delivered a masterclass performance, finishing with 18 points, four rebounds, and two assists. His control across the night and leadership on-court saw him adjudged Man of the Match.Dubai Basketball's consistency and composure were reflected in the numbers. Shooting an impressive 48.2% from the field compared to Olimpija's 40%, the home side made every possession count, exploiting gaps in the Slovenian defence and converting under pressure.Coach Jurica Golemac praised the team's mental preparation and energy on the court. 'Credit to Cedevita Olimpija for a great series. We knew this was going to be our toughest matchup, but we didn't shy away from the challenge. We came out to prove we were the better team – and we did just that.'
'We fought for 40 minutes, stayed on our feet, and supported one another throughout. I want to thank the fans – tonight, they were our sixth player. Every time we started to feel the fatigue, they gave us that extra push.'
Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
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