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DUBAI: Dubai Basketball delivered one of their most complete EuroLeague performances on Thursday night with an 83-78 win over FC Barcelona.

From the opening tip, Jurica Golemac’s squad made their intentions clear: control the paint, dictate the tempo, and make Barcelona adjust. The approach paid off immediately.

The frontcourt duo of Filip Petrusev and Mfiondu Kabengele set the tone, combining for 13 of Dubai’s first 18 points to take a double-digit lead. Every possession ran through the post, forcing the visitors to defend deep and struggle for rhythm.

Dubai’s patience on offense was evident with the team not attempting a single three-pointer until the closing minute of the first half, when McKinley Wright IV calmly drained one from distance.

By then, Dubai had already built a strong foundation with 12 made shots inside the arc, proving that efficiency and control could outweigh volume from long range.

The third quarter showcased the same attacking commitment. Petrusev poured in 12 points, while Dwayne Bacon attacked off the dribble, using his physicality to draw contact and create high-percentage looks. As Barcelona attempted to close the gap, Dubai’s composure never wavered.

“On days like this, you need to show character and mental strength,” Golemac said.

“We showed the IQ to make the right decisions and managed to win the game. Congratulations to the players and big thanks to the fans. They were here for us when we felt exhausted — they lifted us up.”

When the time came to strike from outside, Davis Bertans and Klemen Prepelic answered the call.

Bertans, who had struggled to find his range early on, erupted with back-to-back three-pointers in a 70-second span, igniting the crowd and pushing Dubai’s lead into safer territory. Prepelic followed with a timely triple.

In the closing moments, Bacon powered through defenders for another layup, Petrusev added a smooth mid-range jumper, and a final transition finish from Bacon put the result beyond doubt.

Statistically, Dubai’s frontcourt ruled the night. Petrusev led all scorers with 23 points, making 5-of-9 from two-point range and a perfect seven-of-seven from the free-throw line.

Bacon added 20 points on eight-of-10 shooting inside the arc, while Kabengele anchored the paint with a strong 10-point, 13-rebound double-double.

Dubai’s next matchup is on Sunday, Oct. 19, at Coca-Cola Arena against ABA League newcomers U-BT Cluj.

RIYADH: The Six Kings Slam delivered another evening of world-class tennis in Riyadh on Thursday, with Italy’s Jannik Sinner and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz continuing to assert their dominance, while Novak Djokovic acknowledged the shifting balance at the top of men’s tennis.

Sinner, who captured last year’s ATP Finals title, once again showcased the consistency and composure that have elevated him into the sport’s elite.

The Italian, who defeated Taylor Fritz to lift the year-end crown in 2024, produced another strong performance in Riyadh to reaffirm his place among tennis’ brightest stars.

Addressing Arab News’ question during the post-match press conference, Sinner reflected on the satisfaction of maintaining his level and focus. “Every day we have a challenge,” he said, adding that “Novak is a huge and tough challenge to play against.”

Djokovic, meanwhile, praised the quality of competition while admitting that the new generation led by Sinner and Alcaraz were playing “as close to perfection” as anyone right now.

“I always try to improve … but when I still do, I still try to play at the highest level and compete with the best players in the world,” Djokovic told Arab News.

“Jannik and Carlos are, without a doubt, a few levels above both all of us. But I still try to close the gap and challenge them at the biggest tournaments.”

He added that while his hunger for titles remains, he is aware that his current chapter comes with a new perspective.

“I have to be satisfied with being (among the) top five in the world, you know, in these circumstances,” he said. “You might never catch perfection, but you still lean towards it.”

Earlier in the evening, Alcaraz continued his impressive run with another victory over Fritz, replicating his Tokyo triumph from two weeks ago. The Spaniard’s variety and creative play again stole the show — particularly his crowd-pleasing drop shots.

“I came here to try to play aggressive, to do the same things that I did in Tokyo,” Alcaraz said.

“The conditions are totally different … the altitude is different, the balls fly more, bounce more, bigger, sooner. So I just tried to adapt myself as best as I can. It was a great feeling today.”

Asked about the artistry of his drop shots, Alcaraz explained: “It is a mix of both — the power and the touch. When I feel it, when I see the opponent step back, I make the most of that time to make the drops. The strategy for me is really important.”

Fritz said the result highlighted the fine margins at the elite level. “It’s tough to say because … I felt like the gap was closing,” he admitted.

“But tonight, it did not feel close. He (Alcaraz) played very well. I felt really slow on the court today … It just took one ball from him to kind of put me out of position.”