DUBAI: Dubai Basketball’s first EuroLeague foray has ended with a 95-85 defeat by Valencia Basket in round 38 of the regular season in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Dubai was announced as one of the EuroLeague’s newest contenders in June last year, becoming the first Gulf team to compete in a professional European sports league since being formed just a season before.
Dubai Basketball ended their run in 11th place, narrowly missing out on a Top 10 spot and the Play-In Showdown, the playoffs for teams between seventh and 10th. But they left behind a season of growth and unforgettable performances.
Dubai’s new head coach, Aleksander Sekulic, said on the night: “This season has been an important step for our team. We proved that we can compete with the best teams in Europe but also showed where we need to grow. I’m proud of the players and the way they represented Dubai throughout their campaign. Now our full focus is on the ABA League, where we want to carry this experience into the playoffs and finish the season strong.”
Valencia Basket opened the game with strong offensive execution, controlling tempo and taking a 24-19 lead after the first quarter. Dubai Basketball responded in the second period with improved defensive intensity and better ball movement, generating efficient scoring possessions late in the half to edge ahead 47-45 at the break, marking their most cohesive stretch of the game on both ends.
The decisive phase came in the third quarter, where Valencia imposed a higher pace and capitalized on defensive lapses, outscoring Dubai 34-20 to build a double-digit advantage. Dubai showed resilience in the final period, but struggled to consistently break Valencia’s defensive structure, while the visitors managed the game effectively in the closing minutes. Dzanan Musa led Dubai with 21 points, with Davis Bertans adding 17 in the final EuroLeague game of the season.
Despite falling just short of the Play-In, Dubai Basketball’s debut campaign stands as a landmark achievement both for the club and the region. They competed against Europe’s elite, recorded wins over world-renowned teams at the Coca-Cola Arena, and welcomed over 70,000 fans to the city — underlining Dubai’s growing commitment to the development of the sport.
As the EuroLeague chapter closes, focus now shifts to the ABA League, where Dubai Basketball sits top of the table and is preparing for the playoffs in May. Carrying momentum and confidence into the final stretch, the team remains firmly on course to turn a historic debut year into a title-contending campaign.
