ABA League: Dubai Basketball score 85-76 win over Slovenia's Cedevita Olimpija
Dubai's home team, in just their first year of competing in the league, will now face Serbian giants Partizan in a best-of-three semi-finals series beginning on May 26 in Belgrade before heading back to Dubai for the second leg on Thursday, May 29 at 7.30pm.
In what was their most decisive game of the season yet, Dubai came out firing from tip-off, controlling the tempo and momentum from the first whistle. Playing in front of an emphatic home crowd, the team made an early statement, closing the first quarter eight points ahead and never looking back.
The breakthrough came in the early minutes of the second quarter. With disciplined defence and swift ball movement, Dubai surged to an 11-point lead with only half of the second quarter to play — marking the game's turning point. Cedevita Olimpija struggled to recover from the early deficit, unable to regain control or close the gap for the remainder of the match.
Leading the charge was Nate Mason, once again proving himself as the team's top scorer for the night. The point guard delivered a masterclass performance, finishing with 18 points, four rebounds, and two assists. His control across the night and leadership on-court has awarded him the title of man-of-the-match.
Dubai Basketball's consistency and composure were reflected in the numbers. Shooting an impressive 48.2 per cent from the field compared to Olimpija's 40 per cent, the home side made every possession count, exploiting gaps in the Slovenian defence and converting under pressure.
Coach Jurica Golemac praised the team's mental preparation and energy on the court,
'Credit to Cedevita Olimpija for a great series. We knew this was going to be our toughest quarter-final matchup, but we didn't shy away from the challenge. We came out to prove we were the better team — and we did just that.'
'We fought for 40 minutes, stayed on our feet, and supported one another throughout. I want to thank the fans — tonight, they were our sixth player. Every time we started to feel the fatigue, they gave us that extra push.'
The road ahead gets tougher as they prepare to face Serbian powerhouse Partizan Mozzart Bet in the semi-finals. But with momentum, belief, and a home crowd behind them, Dubai Basketball are ready for the next chapter of their historic run with their fans by their side.
Fans can secure their spot now for the semi-finals and support their team on Thursday, May 29 at the Coca-Cola Arena against one of Europe's biggest teams.
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