Dubai Basketball defeats defending EuroLeague champions

Dubai Basketball has defeated Turkish giants and reigning EuroLeague champions Fenerbahce with a score of 92-81 at the Coca-Cola Arena on Thursday to secure their second victory over the title holders in their debut EuroLeague campaign.

Roared on by a sold-out crowd in Dubai, Jurica Golemac’s side brought their trademark home court control to a high-intensity contest and closed out a decisive result in EuroLeague Round 21.

The victory halted Fenerbahce’s four-game winning streak and underlined Dubai Basketball’s growing presence among Europe’s best.

From the opening tip, the hosts imposed themselves at both ends of the floor, executing with purpose and closing out a statement win in front of their fans.

Bosnian canter Kenan Kamenjas led the charge with a dominant double-double of 20 points and 15 rebounds while McKinley Wright topped the scoring charts with 22 points, both players making their mark for their debut season with the Dubai side.

Dubai Basketball Head Coach Jurica Golemac praised his players’ response and mentality following the final buzzer, “Congratulations to the players. We answered the challenge in the best possible way,” said Golemac. “After the last two games, we knew we had to show much more desire and energy, and that’s exactly what this group delivered.”

The atmosphere inside Coca-Cola Arena matched the magnitude of the occasion, with both home and travelling supporters creating an unforgettable 40 minutes of basketball.

Golemac reserved special praise for the Dubai’s very own saying, “Fenerbahce brought their fans, but I’m very proud of ours,” he said. “They competed in the stands the same way we competed on the court. Congratulations to them and to the players.”

This is Dubai’s thirteenth home win of the season across two leagues , cementing Coca-Cola Arena as one of the toughest home courts to compete in across two of the best European leagues.

The city next welcomes Serbia’s Borac Mozzart for an ABA League Monday night thriller on January 12 at 7:00 pm.