Latest news with #DubaiBasketball
Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Dubai Basketball keep title dreams alive with thrilling win over Partizan
A game for the books, Dubai Basketball edged out seven-time ABA League champions Partizan Mozzart Bet in Game 2 of the semi-finals – winning the pivotal clash 100:95 in the final five minutes of overtime. Dubai welcomed Serbian powerhouse Partizan Mozzart Bet to Coca-Cola Arena on Thursday night following a shocking loss in Belgrade in the first leg of the semi-final. Needing this win to keep their league ambitions alive, Dubai Basketball prepared for what would be one of their best games this season. A stark contrast from Game 1 of the semis, Dubai Basketball kept Partizan on edge with unrelenting momentum and strong defensive tactics. Hailing Dubai for their response, Partizan coach Zeljko Obradovic spoke about the intensity of playing Dubai at home, 'We knew they would try to be aggressive here [in Dubai], and they were.' Dubai's physicality and determination were evident from the beginning moments of the first quarter. Holding a narrow three-point lead in the second quarter, the team gained confidence as they landed crucial three-pointers, pushing ahead into the second half. However, Partizan quickly retaliated, with American guard Carlik Jones and Belgian international Frank Ntilikina making an early impact and keeping the contest tight. Leading by example was captain and Man of the Match, Klemen Prepelić. The Slovenian shooting guard has often been praised for his role in the debutant team, but his performance on Thursday night outshone his previous milestones for the team. Making him the night's top scorer, Prepelic contributed 30 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist. A scoreline that only another Dubai Basketball team member came close to – Nate Mason's perfectly executed free throws in the last 14 seconds of regulation time are what equalised the score and forced Partizan into overtime. Praising the team's resilience, Dubai Basketball head coach Jurica Golemac said, 'I'm very proud. We didn't surrender; we didn't give up. You could see it in the players—the emotions in their eyes. We didn't want the season to end, and that was obvious.' With over 7,000 fans in attendance, Dubai looked more confident than ever in the extra period. Spurred on by the home crowd, they secured the final points of the night and sealed a crucial win to force a deciding third game in Belgrade on Sunday.
Dubai Eye
2 days ago
- Sport
- Dubai Eye
Dubai Basketball keep title dreams alive with thrilling overtime victory at home
Dubai Basketball have kept their league ambitions alive by edging out seven-time ABA League champions Partizan Mozzart Bet in Game 2 of the semi-finals – winning the pivotal clash 100:95 in the final five minutes of overtime. Dubai welcomed Serbian powerhouse Partizan Mozzart Bet to Coca-Cola Arena on Thursday night following a shocking loss in Belgrade in the first leg of the semi-final. Dubai Basketball kept Partizan on edge with unrelenting momentum and strong defensive tactics. Hailing Dubai for their response, Partizan coach Zeljko Obradovic spoke about the intensity of playing at home. 'We knew they would try to be aggressive here [in Dubai], and they were.' Dubai's physicality and determination were evident from the beginning moments of the first quarter. Holding a narrow three-point lead in the second quarter, the team gained confidence as they landed crucial three-pointers, pushing ahead into the second half. However, Partizan quickly retaliated, with American guard Carlik Jones and Belgian international Frank Ntilikina making an early impact and keeping the contest tight. Leading by example was captain and Man of the Match, Klemen Prepelić. The Slovenian shooting guard has often been praised for his role in the debutant team, but his performance on Thursday night outshone his previous milestones for the team. Making him the night's top scorer, Prepelić contributed 30 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist. A scoreline that only another Dubai Basketball team member came close to – Nate Mason's perfectly executed free throws in the last 14 seconds of regulation time are what equalised the score and forced Partizan into overtime. Praising the team's resilience, Dubai Basketball head coach Jurica Golemac said, 'I'm very proud. We didn't surrender; we didn't give up. You could see it in the players - the emotions in their eyes. We didn't want the season to end, and that was obvious.' With over 7,000 fans in attendance, Dubai looked more confident than ever in the extra period. Spurred on by the home crowd, they secured the final points of the night and sealed a crucial win to force a deciding third game in Belgrade on Sunday. 'Our defence was unbelievable today,' Golemac added. 'I had the feeling there were 10,000 people inside — breathing and playing the game with us. They wanted to succeed just like we did.' Dubai Basketball now head to Serbia for the final semi-final showdown, one step away from a coveted place in the ABA League finals - marking an already historic debut season for the team with a second home win against one of Europe's most decorated clubs.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Dubai Basketball keep title dreams alive with overtime win against seven-time champions
DUBAI: Dubai Basketball edged out seven-time ABA League champions Partizan Mozzart Bet in Game 2 of the semi-finals — winning the pivotal clash 100-95 in the final five minutes of overtime to square the series. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Dubai welcomed Serbian powerhouse Partizan Mozzart Bet to Coca-Cola Arena on Thursday night after a shock loss in Belgrade in the first leg of the semi-final. Needing a win to keep their league ambitions alive, Dubai Basketball were set for what would be one of their best games this season. In a stark contrast from the first game of the semis, Dubai Basketball kept Partizan on edge with unrelenting momentum and strong defensive tactics. Praising Dubai's response, Partizan coach Zeljko Obradovic spoke about the intensity of playing Dubai at home. 'We knew they would try to be aggressive here (in Dubai), and they were,' he said. Dubai's physicality and determination were evident from the start of the first quarter. Holding a narrow three-point lead in the second quarter, the team gained confidence as they landed crucial three-pointers, pushing ahead into the second half. However, Partizan quickly retaliated, with American guard Carlik Jones and Belgian international Frank Ntilikina making an early impact and keeping the contest tight. Leading by example for Dubai was captain and Man of the Match Klemen Prepelic. The Slovenian shooting guard has often been praised for his role in the debutant team, but his performance on Thursday night outshone his previous milestones for the team. Prepelic, the night's top scorer, contributed 30 points, three rebounds and one assist. Only one other Dubai Basketball member came close to these stats, with Nate Mason's perfectly executed free throws in the last 14 seconds of regulation time leveling the score and forcing Partizan into overtime. Praising the team's resilience, Dubai Basketball head coach Jurica Golemac said: 'I'm very proud. We didn't surrender; we didn't give up. You could see it in the players — the emotions in their eyes. We didn't want the season to end, and that was obvious.' With more than 7,000 fans in attendance, Dubai looked more confident than ever in the extra period. Spurred on by the home crowd, they secured the final points of the night and sealed a crucial win to force a deciding third game in Belgrade on Sunday. 'Our defence was unbelievable today,' Golemac added. 'I had the feeling there were 10,000 people inside — breathing and playing the game with us. They wanted to succeed just like we did.' Dubai Basketball now head to Serbia for the semi-final showdown, one step away from a place in the ABA League finals — marking an already historic debut season for the team with a second home win against one of Europe's most decorated clubs.
Dubai Eye
5 days ago
- 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
6 days ago
- Sport
- Al Etihad
NextGen: Dubai's Falcons hold promise as basketball talent
28 May 2025 00:46 KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)The NextGen Finals for Under-18 basketball players on the sidelines of the EuroLeague's Final Four in Abu Dhabi proved to be a vital stepping stone for some of the sport's future superstars in the week gone by. And the host country's representatives Dubai Basketball Falcons impressed despite many challenges.'We got only 10 days to come together to prepare, so considering the challenges, I am proud of the team,' coach Slaven Rimac tells Aletihad after the side finished their third and final Group A engagement at the Mubadala Arena. The world's top eight clubs were pitted in two groups and only the group toppers made it to the final. The hastily arranged team of Dubai Basketball had a tough pairing with one of the oldest clubs, Barcelona, to open the tournament on a losing note. But they acquitted themselves with a comeback win against Mega Super Belgrade and even rallied in the third quarter and led against eventual finalist Emporio Armani Milan in the final game. But the Italian club's more experienced players dug deep and managed to find the win 86-84, such was the fine is a saying that in order to be the best, you have to beat the best. But in order for that to happen, you first have to see and face the best. Judging by the display of the younger Falcons and the fact that Milan lost to eventual winner Zalgiris Kaunas 89-81, the future seems only bright from here.'We have young players like Gustavs [Vilcans] or [Diop] Amath, who are born in 2010, then Bacary [Doucoure] is also 2010, and meanwhile all of the squad of EA Milan is like 2007 and they have been playing together for about two years now,' Rimac pointed team finished strongly especially considering a 46-point margin loss to Barcelona. 'Unfortunately, we played against a very good team of Barcelona. They punished us and we were not under any illusions. But yes, it was important how we react to that and the boys concentrated on the second and third games.'We showed that we have quality, that the kids know how to play right... I guess the kids were not used to that stage, especially in offence where they couldn't react as well as after. But we showed we had a united team; everybody respects each other and I think we showed a really good face of Dubai basketball team.'I was indeed worried about the players' mental and psychological side after that Barcelona loss because we knew we had a certain quality but as you know, we didn't have time to practice as much. Yet, the team reacted very well with that response against Mega. And remember, it is the first time we are playing in Abu Dhabi, too,' Rimac other group also was strongly contested with the Lithuanian side of Kaunas prevailing over teams from Real Madrid, Paris and United States. Dubai Basketball competed as wild card entrants and managed to carve their own impressions, as hoped by Rimac colleague and the general manager of the club's youth programme, Petros Krasopoulos. 'For the kids coming through our academy and other young players across the UAE, seeing a team from Dubai competing in the NextGen EuroLeague has been a massive source of inspiration,' said Krasopoulos, the Greek native who has been with the club since 2015. 'It makes professional basketball an achievable feat – highlighting that there's a clear pathway from playing the game here locally to stepping onto the court against some of the biggest youth teams in Europe.'
