DUBAI: Dubai Basketball climbed to the top of the ABA League rankings with a 92-81 victory over Bosnia’s most successful basketball club, Igokea M:tel, on Christmas Eve at the Coca-Cola Arena.
The win extended Dubai Basketball’s record to 11-3 and brought festive cheer to an almost full arena.
Dubai Basketball’s Awudu Abass delivered a standout performance, scoring a game-high 26 points, as well as six rebounds and two assists while Klemen Prepelic contributed 14 points, five assists, and two rebounds to the team’s success.
“My mindset today was to focus on the basics to win the game,” Abass said. “I aimed for simple shots, and as my confidence grew, I was able to take on the tougher ones. The energy in the arena was incredible, pushing me to give my best. Hard work always pays off, and I’m thrilled with this win.”
Dubai Basketball’s head coach, Jurica Golemac, said: “Yeah it feels great, you know? Especially after the game, we got two different faces today. I need to congratulate the players. We played solid 40 minutes in the end. We are talking a lot about consistency in the game, you know, especially defensively.”
In the first half, Igokea M:tel took control with a strong defensive effort. Led by Marko Jeric and Dragan Milosavljevic, the Bosnian team built a 47-40 halftime lead. However, Dubai Basketball mounted a determined comeback in the second half, with Abass leading the charge. The team’s resilience and skill turned the tide, securing a decisive victory on their home court.
Igokea head coach Nenand Stefanovic said: “First half, I think we played very good, maybe even the lead should’ve been bigger for us. Second half, we didn’t exist. It was all about them. They scored 52 points. We cannot talk about a basketball game where we concede so many points in the second half.
“Socongratulationsto them. I think they were more stable for the 40 minutes. We played 20 good minutes and 20 very bad minutes. But there are some obvious reasons for that.
“My first time here. Everything was great. I want to thank people from the club, and the entire Dubai Basketball organization. It was a very warm hospitality. And getting us here with the plane and everything. Everything is great here — the gym, the hotel, the city. We really enjoyed these three days, and again, from my club, I want to say a big thank you to everybody,” Stefanovic added.
