Dubai BC edge-of-the-seat Coca-Cola Arena game

Article posted by Coliseum, September 24^th, 2024

Image: Coca-Cola Arena, Ninoksha Maria, CC BY-SA 4.0

Dubai Basketball kicked off their ABA League campaign with a thrilling win by outplaying the defending champions Red Star of Serbia 86-84 in a tense and thrilling game at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai (UAE) on September 22^nd.

‘The National’ stated that it was a momentous occasion for Dubai Basketball, also known as Dubai BC, who were playing in the league for the first time and in front of more than 4,000 fans in Dubai.

The Dubai Basketball Club, commonly known as Dubai BC, is an Emirati professional basketball team based in Dubai. Founded in 2024, the team plays in the ABA League starting from the 2024-2025 seasons.

The Coca-Cola Arena is a multipurpose arena located in the City Walk area in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The venue was opened on June 6^th, 2019. It has a capacity of 17,000. Owned by Meraas (holding company headquartered in Dubai) and operated by ASM Global, the arena hosts events that include concerts, sport, family entertainment, and ceremonies. It serves as the abode of the Dubai BC.

Los Angeles (US)-based ASM Global is the world’s leading venue management company and producer of live event experiences. With over 400+ premier venues spanning worldwide they operate and invest in the world’s most important stadiums, arenas, convention centers, and theaters, including entertainment districts and mixed-use developments.

The ABA League, renamed the ABA League First Division in 2017, is the top-tier regional men’s professional basketball league that originally featured clubs from former Yugoslavia (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia). Due to sponsorship reasons, the league was also known as the Goodyear League from 2001 to 2006, the NLB League from 2006 to 2011 and as the AdmiralBet ABA League since 2021.

‘The National’ further stated that Dejan Davidovac (Serbian basketball small forward) with a two-pointer opened the scoring for Red Star while Aleksa Uskoković (Serbian basketball player) and Captain Klemen Prepelič (Slovenian professional basketball player) kept the scoreboard ticking for Dubai.

It was a ding-dong battle from the outset as the lead changed numerous times before Dubai established a lead that they held going into each break.

They went into the first quarter with a 28-16 lead, the highlight of that period being a stunning, buzzer-beating three pointer from Awudu Abbas (Italian professional basketball player).

Red Star made the home side pay for some mistakes early in the second quarter before Dubai came back strongly to go into the second half break 50-42 with Nate Mason (American professional basketball player) sinking a basket seconds from the buzzer.

Dubai went into the final quarter 66-63 thanks to a three pointer from Prepelič. They did slip from a nine-point lead before clinging on to victory by two points.

The crowd got their money’s worth with some top-class action on the court and entertainment during the breaks.

John Boyer, who is on a business trip to the UAE and a former American basketball pro, said it’s a “great first step” for Dubai with a “really ambitious team”.

Added Boyer, “They did a good job posting things on social media. I had a friend who said I should come check out the first home game for the Adriatic League. And then, I managed to get some tickets and I’m excited to see what happens. I think it’s a great first step, really ambitious team. They made some key signings in the last few weeks. So, interesting to see how the team comes together and how they compete with a Euroleague team like the Red Star (a men’s professional basketball club based in Belgrade, Serbia). I’m working on some trips to the UAE in the coming months and I should probably be able to make it to the couple of National Basketball Association (NBA) pre-season games in Abu Dhabi as well.”

Concluded Nikda Lamic, a Serbian working in Dubai for 10 years, “It’s amazing that the ABA League comes to Dubai, especially Red Star, and I’m a fan of it. This team is a world champion. It’s good for the fans, it’s good for the young kids to learn more about basketball as a sport. I’m very excited for tonight.”

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