‘Serious performance’: Dubai Basketball win 14th straight ABA League game

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Updated 28 January 2026
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‘Serious performance’: Dubai Basketball win 14th straight ABA League game

  • A 98-82 win over FMP at Coca-Cola Arena keeps the team at the top of the standings

DUBAI: Dubai Basketball maintained control of their ABA League campaign with a home win over Serbian club FMP, taking the Round 16 game at the Coca-Cola Arena by a score of 98-82.

The result pushed Dubai to 14-0 in the standings and kept them at the top of the table.

Dubai are the only team in the league still unbeaten, at home and away. This is the UAE-based team’s second season in the ABA League after a semi-final finish in their debut season.

Dubai Basketball head coach Jurica Golemac said of his team’s performance: “This was a serious performance and a well-deserved win. Defensively, especially in the second half, we showed the level we want to play at, and the team spirit continues to grow. The season is long, we’ve had challenges, but the character of the group is clear — we stay positive, keep building, and focus on every game.”

After being out with an injury for most of the season, one of Dubai Basketball’s biggest signings, Dzanan Musa, returned with a statement performance — the Bosnian shooting guard scored 21 points in just over 21 minutes of play. Aleksa Avramovic contributed in several areas with 13 points, six assists, and three rebounds, while also controlling tempo during key phases of the game.

Frontcourt production was another factor in Dubai’s consistency. Mfiondu Kabengele added 16 points, and Kenan Kamenjas finished with 13 points and seven rebounds. Dubai spread scoring responsibility and avoided prolonged scoring droughts throughout the contest.

FMP was led by Filip Barna with 21 points and six rebounds, with additional scoring from Scott, Stefanovic, Stanojevic, and Gasic. Despite balanced individual efforts, the visitors were unable to match Dubai’s efficiency.

Combined with control of key moments in the second and fourth quarters, that efficiency ensured another composed and convincing home win for Dubai Basketball.

The team head to their next game at Belgrade Arena against Red Star for EuroLeague Round 25.


Ferhat stars as Mouloudia get CAF Champions League boost

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Ferhat stars as Mouloudia get CAF Champions League boost

  • Muslim Anatouf scored after 15 minutes and a Ferhat thunderbolt on 44 minutes gave Mouloudia a two-goal half-time advantage
  • It would have been an injustice if the Sudanese club had snatched a draw

JOHANNESBURG: Zinedine Ferhat created the first goal and scored the second for Mouloudia Alger of Algeria in a 2-1 win over Al Hilal of Sudan 2-1 on Friday that threw CAF Champions League Group C wide open.
Muslim Anatouf scored after 15 minutes and a Ferhat thunderbolt on 44 minutes gave Mouloudia a two-goal half-time advantage before a near-capacity crowd in the 45,000-seat Algiers stadium.
Hilal rarely threatened to reduce the deficit in a cauldron of cheering, singing and flag waving until Mauritanian Ahmed Salem M’Bareck netted with 13 minutes remaining.
Ghanaian substitute Kamaradini Mamudu had a late chance to bring Hilal level, but his header from a corner flew wide.
It would have been an injustice if the Sudanese club had snatched a draw, however, as they were outplayed by quicker, slicker Mouloudia for long periods of an often scrappy, foul-ridden match.
Despite losing for the first time in the group after two victories and two draws, Hilal retained first place with eight points.
Topping the table in the most competitive of the four groups is a remarkable achievement by Hilal given they have to stage home matches in Rwanda because of the ongoing Sudanese civil war.
Mouloudia had just one point after matchday three, but back-to-back home wins over Saint-Eloi Lupopo from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Hilal have lifted them to second with seven points.
Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa have five points, one more than Lupopo, ahead of their clash in Lubumbashi on Sunday.
A win for Lupopo would leave Sundowns in danger of missing the knockout stage of the premier African club competition for only the second time since winning the 2016 final against Zamalek of Egypt.
In the final round on February 14, Hilal host Lupopo and Sundowns will have home advantage over Mouloudia, whose South African coach, Rhulani Mokwena, was formerly in charge of the Pretoria club.