DUBAI: Dubai Basketball continued an impressive ABA League run with a 77-69 win over SC Derby in Round 6 of regular season, extending their undefeated streak and maintaining the Group A top spot.
The victory is the perfect prelude to EuroLeague Week in Dubai, as they prepare to face the top two teams — Crvena Zvezda (Red Star) and Zalgiris Kaunas — in Europe’s most competitive league at Coca-Cola Arena.
Though SC Derby kept the contest close until the final minutes, Dubai’s depth and composure once again made the difference. Coach Jurica Golemac rotated the roster strategically, keeping players fresh ahead of a demanding EuroLeague double week.
Golemac said: “With good defense and energy, we managed to get the victory in the end. It’s a challenge for us, it’s not going to be easy — we’re playing again in 48 hours (and) we have some real difficulties with injuries and players coming back.
“We’re going to try to give everything to beat those teams. Motivation won’t be an issue when facing the leaders on the table. Hopefully, the fans will come in big numbers to help us, because with them we can achieve great things.”
The night also marked the long-awaited return of Serbian guard Aleksa Avramovic, whose presence added renewed energy and leadership to the court. His comeback could not have been better timed, with two crucial matchups on the horizon that could define Dubai’s standing among Europe’s elite.
With Crvena Zvezda (Red Star) visiting on Tuesday, Nov. 11, followed by Zalgiris Kaunas on Friday, Nov. 14, Dubai Basketball enters its biggest week of the season yet — a chance to measure themselves against the best and climb the ladder in the team’s debut campaign.
