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Dubai Eye
2 days ago
- Business
- Dubai Eye
Dubai Basketball wraps up historic debut season following knockout in Belgrade
Despite taking an early lead, Dubai Basketball suffered a 114-97 defeat at the third and final game of the semi-finals at Belgrade Arena against Serbian powerhouse Partizan. Davis Bertans, Klemen Prepelić, and Nate Mason each sank three-pointers within the first four minutes giving Dubai Basketball an early lead, but by the end of the first quarter, Dubai had stormed ahead with a commanding nine-point lead. However, the momentum began to shift in the second quarter. With the backing of a packed home crowd, Partizan tightened their defence and gradually closed the gap, reducing Dubai's lead to just a single point by the end of the third quarter. As the game progressed into the third and fourth quarters, Partizan demonstrated why they are seven-time ABA League champions. Although they surged ahead, Dubai refused to go down without a fight, repeatedly equalising the score and keeping the contest wide open. In the final quarter, Partizan pulled away, scoring an impressive 28 points that widened the gap to 17 and ultimately secured their place in the finals. Dubai, however, walked away with their heads held high, having challenged one of Europe's top basketball teams to the very end. "Throughout the season, we played good basketball. We claimed major wins – including victories over some of the league's giants – and today, we pushed Partizan into a serious battle for a place in the finals," said Dubai Basketball's head coach Jurica Golemac. This season has been nothing short of historic for the first-ever sports club in the country representing the city of Dubai. It has laid the foundation for a legacy in the making, one that is not only transforming the sporting landscape in the country but also supporting the region's presence on the global basketball stage. Dubai Basketball officially set out on their journey in the Adriatic League in September – competing against some of the most prolific teams in Europe. From beating reigning champions Red Star in their opening game to being one of the only teams in the league to beat Partizan twice in their home court, the 2024/25 season was packed with milestones. Reflecting on the season, Golemac said: "We must be satisfied. This was our first season, with 13 new players in total. We were fortunate to have selected not only top-quality athletes but also exceptional people who made this journey smoother." He added that "plans for the future are already underway. In fact, they've been in motion throughout the season. Analysis, planning – it all continues. As they say, the off-season begins tomorrow, and so does our preparation for what comes next". Dubai Basketball's debut has shown that a newly established team can rise to challenge Europe's elite — creating something monumental for the sport, not just in the country, but across the Middle East.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Dubai Basketball end historic first season with knockout in Belgrade
DUBAI: Dubai Basketball ended their inaugural ABA League season after a 114-97 defeat in the final leg of the semifinal against Serbian powerhouse Partizan. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The team officially set out on their journey in the Adriatic League in September, competing against some of the most prolific sides in Europe. From beating reigning champions Red Star in their opening game to being one of the only teams in the league to beat Partizan twice at their home court, the 2024-25 season was packed with milestones. The third and final game of the semifinals took place on Sunday night at Belgrade Arena, the home of Partizan, with Dubai determined to capitalize on squaring the series in the previous game. Dubai opened the game with intensity, taking an early lead as Davis Bertans, Klemen Prepelic, and Nate Mason each sank three-pointers within the first four minutes. By the end of the first quarter, Dubai had stormed ahead with a commanding nine-point lead. However, the momentum began to shift in the second quarter. With the backing of a packed home crowd, Partizan tightened their defence and gradually closed the gap, reducing Dubai's lead to just a single point by the end of the third quarter. As the game progressed into the third and fourth quarters, Partizan demonstrated why they are seven-time ABA League champions. Although they surged ahead, Dubai refused to go down without a fight, repeatedly equalising the score and keeping the contest wide open. In the final quarter, Partizan pulled away, scoring an impressive 28 points that widened the gap to 17 and ultimately secured their place in the finals. Dubai, however, walked away with their heads held high, having challenged one of Europe's top basketball teams to the very end. Reflecting on the season, Dubai Basketball's head coach, Jurica Golemac, said: 'We must be satisfied. This was our first season, with 13 new players in total. We were fortunate to have selected not only top-quality athletes but also exceptional people who made this journey smoother. 'Throughout the season, we played good basketball. We claimed major wins — including victories over some of the league's giants — and today, we pushed Partizan into a serious battle for a place in the finals. Plans for the future are already underway. In fact, they've been in motion throughout the season. Analysis, planning — it all continues. 'As they say, the off-season begins tomorrow, and so does our preparation for what comes next.'
Dubai Eye
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Dubai Eye
Dubai Basketball loses out to dominant Partizan in Belgrade
A dominant performance by ABA League's most decorated teams, Partizan Mozzart Bet, saw Dubai Basketball fall short in their first-ever semi-final appearance. The Serbian giants secured a 102:72 win on Monday night at a packed Štark Arena in Belgrade. Dubai opened the game with early momentum as Davis Bertans struck first with a clean 2-point layup. But 7-time ABA League title winners, Partizan were quick to equalise the score and propel the team to an 8-point difference in the first quarter. The home side showcased why Belgrade is regarded as one of the most formidable venues in European basketball. Partizan's Sterling Brown cemented his place against Dubai with a 21-point contribution. Combined with the Serbian teams' 53 per cent 3-point success rate and 35 field goals, Game 1 of the semi-finals was handed to Partizan. Despite the scoreline, Dubai Basketball's debut season continues to impress. In just their first ABA League campaign, the team has reached the semi-finals – a historic milestone for a debutant club. Dubai remains the only new club to have recorded a win against Partizan in their inaugural season. 'The better team won today,' says Dubai Basketball head coach Jurica Golemac. '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. 'We need our fans more than ever. 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 stage is set for a defining night at Coca-Cola Arena on Thursday, May 29.
Al Etihad
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Al Etihad
Dubai Basketball survive Split scare to continue winning streak
23 Apr 2025 00:24 DUBAI (ALETIHAD)Dubai Basketball staged a last-minute comeback to secure a 87-82 victory over Croatian side Split for their 11th consecutive victory in the ABA League, taking their win-loss record in their debut season to an impressive 23-5. With just one home game remaining before the playoffs, the team has cemented its place as one of the standout teams of the Basketball delivered a dominant first half, outscoring Split with quick offensive blows and solid defence. Dubai Basketball's 'Latvian Laser' Davis Bertans led the scoring with 25 points from a clinical shooting display to be the hero of the night.'Our first half was very, very good,' said head coach Jurica Golemac after the match. 'We played with intent, we executed well and we were in control. But then, we thought it was finished, and Split didn't give up. We gave them the chance and the hope that they could win this game.'With momentum shifting, Dubai's rhythm appeared to falter towards the final minutes of the game. 'We started to not move the ball,' Golemac admitted. 'We missed a couple of open shots. We played basket to basket, and that's never good. They got momentum, and they were scoring tough shots – even with good defence.'Split seized the opportunity with a burst of energy in the second half, clawing back a 12-point deficit and even taking a narrow lead at one point in the final quarter. Their head coach shared his half-time message, telling his players to 'to take control of our lives – [the game] is in our own hands'.As the game tightened, Golemac made a decisive move, bringing on Nemanja Dangubić to help the team from deep in the court. The commanding forward responded immediately. 'In the end, I have to give credit to the players,' Golemac added. 'We managed. We never gave up. With defence, we won the game. And with the great help of our fans, they never gave up on us, and they gave us the extra energy when we needed it.'The last couple of weeks we had easier victories, and I think everyone expected that tonight would be the same – especially after the way the game started. But as I always say, we play for 40 minutes. Not 10, not 12, not even 38. We play for 40. 'It's hard to stay at a high level week after week,' he added. 'Now we need to analyse what went wrong, look at what we can improve, and get back to work in practice to prepare for the next game.'
Arab News
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
‘We never gave up': Dubai Basketball edge out KK Split in last-minute win
DUBAI: Dubai Basketball continues their dream debut season with a last-minute comeback, securing a 87-82 victory over Croatian side Split on Sunday night at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai. This secured their 11th consecutive victory, taking their win-loss record to an impressive 23-5. With just one home game remaining before the playoffs, the team has cemented its place as one of the standout teams of the season. Dubai Basketball delivered a dominant first half, outscoring Split with quick offensive blows and solid defense. Dubai Basketball's 'Latvian Laser' Davis Bertans led the scoring with 25 points, earning the title of the night's hero after a clinical shooting display. 'Our first half was very, very good,' said head coach, Jurica Golemac, after the match. 'We played with intent, we executed well, and we were in control. But then, we thought it was finished, and Split didn't give up. We gave them the chance and the hope that they could win this game.' With momentum shifting, Dubai's rhythm appeared to falter toward the final minutes of the game. 'We started to not move the ball,' Golemac said. 'We missed a couple of open shots. We played basket to basket, and that's never good. They got momentum, and they were scoring tough shots — even with good defense.' Split seized the opportunity with a burst of energy in the second half, clawing back from a 12-point deficit and even taking a narrow lead at one point in the final quarter. Their head coach shared his half-time message, telling his players to 'to take control of our lives — (the game) is in our own hands.' As the game tightened, Golemac made a decisive move, bringing on fan favorite Nemanja Dangubic to help the team from deep in the court. The city's commanding forward responded immediately. 'In the end, I have to give credit to the players,' Golemac said. 'We managed. We never gave up. With defense, we won the game. And with the great help of our fans, they never gave up on us, and they gave us the extra energy when we needed it.' Reflecting on the team's recent run of success, Golemac said: 'This is the 11th game in a row that we are winning. The last couple of weeks we had easier victories, and I think everyone expected that tonight would be the same — especially after the way the game started. But as I always say, we play for 40 minutes. Not 10, not 12, not even 38. We play for 40. 'It's hard to stay at a high-level week after week,' he said. 'Now we need to analyze what went wrong, look at what we can improve, and get back to work in practice to prepare for the next game.'
