In front of a passionate crowd at *Coca-Cola Arena, the *Dubai Basketball Team pulled off a sensational victory against Serbian powerhouse *Partizan, winning *100-95 after an intense *overtime battle. With this triumph, Dubai equalizes the series and forces a decisive match in **Belgrade, where the first finalist of the *ABA League will be determined on Sunday, June 1st, at 9 PM Dubai time.
A Nail-Biting Clash From Start to Finish
From the opening tip-off, the match was fiercely contested, with both teams exchanging blows and refusing to back down. As the game reached an 85-85 tie, it became clear that overtime was inevitable, setting the stage for a dramatic ending. In the extra period, Dubai capitalized on key moments to seal a victory that kept its championship hopes alive.
Standout Performances Propel Dubai to Glory
Dubai’s captain, *Klemen Prepelic, put on a stellar display, **scoring 30 points, grabbing **3 rebounds, and delivering **one assist. His teammate *Nat Messen also shined, *scoring 26 points, securing **5 rebounds, and dishing out **6 assists. Meanwhile, *Dāvis Bertāns contributed with *16 points, **4 rebounds, and *two assists, rounding off a commanding performance by the UAE team.
Coach Guliamak: “We Refused to Surrender, and It Showed on the Court”
After the match, Dubai’s head coach, Yurika Guliamak, expressed immense pride in his team’s determination, stating:
“We didn’t want our season to end here, and that was obvious in our energy and passion. The players fought hard, and the atmosphere in the arena was electric—the fans made it feel like 10,000 people were playing alongside us.”
Prepelic: “We Were Fighting for Survival… and We Proved Who We Are”
Captain *Klemen Prepelic, who was instrumental in Dubai’s victory, emphasized the *team effort behind the win:
“This is a massive victory. We didn’t want to let our season end in front of our home crowd, especially after our performance in Belgrade, where we didn’t play to our true potential. Tonight, we showed who we really are.”
Partizan Coach: “We Must Be Stronger in Belgrade”
Meanwhile, Partizan’s head coach, Željko Obradović, acknowledged Dubai’s resilience and emphasized the need for his team to step up in the decisive match:
“We were close to closing out the game, but we failed to contain Dubai’s offensive runs at critical moments. Now, we need to be mentally and physically stronger in Belgrade because the next match will be a true battle.”
All Eyes on Belgrade: A Final Showdown Awaits
With the series tied at *1-1, the upcoming clash in *Belgrade promises high stakes, intense emotions, and an electrifying atmosphere. Dubai understands the challenge ahead—facing a *hostile Partizan crowd—but remains confident in its ability to secure a historic victory. On the other hand, *Partizan will be under immense pressure to avoid a devastating elimination, especially after coming so close to securing a spot in the final.
Now, the countdown begins for *Sunday, June 1st, at 9 PM Dubai time, when one of the most thrilling series in *ABA League history reaches its epic conclusion. Will *Dubai complete its dream run, or will *Partizan reassert its dominance? Basketball fans worldwide eagerly await the answer!
