Dubai Basketball Continue Historic Rise with Another Final Four Appearance
Dubai Basketball secured their place in the 2026 ABA League Semi-Finals after defeating Spartak Office Shoes 88-84 on the road in Subotica in Game 2 of the Quarter-Final series, completing a dominant 2-0 sweep and officially booking their spot among the top four teams in the competition for the second consecutive season.
In a highly intense and physical contest, Dubai Basketball once again demonstrated resilience, composure, and championship mentality under pressure. Despite a hostile atmosphere and strong resistance from the Serbian side, the Dubai-based club delivered when it mattered most and closed out another crucial playoff performance away from home.
Strong Response After Early Spartak Momentum
Spartak Office Shoes opened the game with great energy in front of their home crowd and finished the first quarter with a narrow 26-23 advantage. However, Dubai Basketball responded brilliantly in the second quarter, finding offensive rhythm and scoring 30 points in the period to completely shift the momentum and enter halftime with a 53-47 lead.
The third quarter turned into a defensive battle, with both teams tightening up defensively and limiting scoring opportunities. The quarter ended tied at 11-11, allowing Dubai Basketball to maintain their six-point advantage heading into the final period at 64-58.
Decisive Final Minutes Seal the Victory
The defining moments came in the final four minutes of the game. With the score standing at 75-73, Dubai Basketball produced a crucial 5-0 run in less than a minute to extend the lead to 80-73 and take full control during crunch time.
In the closing moments, Mfiondu Kabengele stepped up with several key baskets in the paint, helping Dubai Basketball maintain a safe distance and successfully close out the victory in Subotica.
Musa Shines Again, Kabengele Delivers Double-Double
Džanan Musa once again led the team offensively with an outstanding all-around performance, finishing the game with 27 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists, continuing his impressive postseason form.
Meanwhile, Mfiondu Kabengele recorded another dominant double-double performance with 14 points and 12 rebounds, playing a major role on both ends of the floor throughout the game.
Džanan Musa: “We Believe We Can Go All the Way”
Speaking after the game, Džanan Musa emphasized the importance of reaching the Semi-Finals while praising the team’s mentality in difficult conditions.
“It was a very difficult game and the environment was extremely hostile, but I think we responded very well. We have talented and experienced players who know how to finish games the right way. Reaching this stage of the competition is very important for us, but we also believe we can go all the way, and we will continue to fight for it.”
Awaiting the Next Challenge
Dubai Basketball will now await their Semi-Final opponent, which will be either Budućnost VOLI or U-BT Cluj-Napoca, as the club continues its pursuit of a historic ABA League title run.
