Dubai Basketball beats defending ABA League champions in stunning debut

Dubai Basketball kicked off its inaugural ABA League season with a thrilling victory, stunning defending champions Crvena Zvezda 86-84 in front of a sold-out crowd at the Coca-Cola Arena on Sunday night.

Fans from around the globe came together to celebrate this historic moment, as Dubai Basketball became the first UAE team to compete in Europe’s ABA League.

The electric atmosphere marked a long-awaited season opener, showcasing the team’s unified spirit from the first tip-off to the final buzzer.

Crvena Zvezda briefly took the lead, but that was short-lived as Dubai surged ahead, ending the first quarter with a solid 25-16 advantage, highlighted by a stunning half-court buzzer-beater that ignited the crowd.

The second half saw a fierce comeback from Crvena Zvezda, narrowing the gap to just two points in the final moments. However, clutch plays from Nate Mason, who scored 18 points, Awudu Abass with 17, and team captain Klemen Prepelic with 16, along with solid defence, secured the win for Dubai Basketball.

Head Coach Jurica Golemac described the victory as a "dream come true," praising his players for their remarkable performance.

"They really battled hard on the court, and we showed our character, and we won the game. I really want to congratulate the fans as they came in large numbers and gave us a lot of energy and I hope more fans will continue to come to Coca-Cola Arena during the season," he said.

This is how we do 🏀

History made ✔️#DubaiBasketball #YallaDB #1City1Team #ABALeague pic.twitter.com/gFm22j78Sq

— Dubai Basketball Club (@dubaibasket) September 22, 2024