DUBAI: A dominant performance by one of the ABA League’s most decorated teams, Partizan Mozzart Bet, saw Dubai Basketball fall short in their first-ever semifinal appearance when the Serbian giants secured a 102-72 win on Monday night.

Dubai started the game well at a packed Stark Arena in Belgrade, with Davis Bertans striking first with a clean two-point layup. But seven-time ABA League title winners Partizan were quick to equalize before propelling the team to an eight-point difference in the first quarter.

The home side demonstrated why Belgrade is regarded as one of the most formidable venues in European basketball. Partizan’s Sterling Brown cemented his place against Dubai with a 21-point contribution and, combined with the Serbian team’s 53 percent three-point success rate and 35 field goals, the first semifinal leg went their way.

Despite the scoreline, Dubai Basketball’s debut season continues to impress. In just their first ABA League campaign, they have reached the semifinals — a historic milestone for a debutant club. Dubai also remains the only club to record a win against Partizan in their inaugural season.

“The better team won today,” said Dubai Basketball head coach Jurica Golemac. “We lost possession too easily and committed too many turnovers to stay competitive at this level. But this team has character, and we’ve already proven we can compete with the best — including a win over Partizan at home. We’ll go back, analyze the game, regroup, and come out stronger.”

He added: “We need our fans more than ever. Their energy and support at Coca-Cola Arena can make a real difference. We’re proud of how far we’ve come, but we’re not done yet — and we want to take this journey forward with the whole city behind us.”

The stage is set for an exciting second leg at Coca-Cola Arena on Thursday, May 29.