DUBAI: Dubai Basketball produced one of the standout performances of their debut EuroLeague campaign, overturning a 14-point deficit in the final quarter to defeat Zalgiris Kaunas 77-65 in Round 36 and keep their play-in ambitions alive.
Up against one of the competition’s most formidable sides, Dubai trailed 53-39 heading into the fourth quarter, with their chances of securing a Top 10 finish slipping away.
What followed was a remarkable display of resilience, as they outscored Zalgiris 38-12 in the final 10 minutes to complete a stunning turnaround.
Head coach Jurica Golemac hailed his team’s determination and defensive intensity after the game, while also acknowledging the support of fans back home.
“We didn’t give up, we never lost faith. I think defensively we played one of the best games of the season. We were locked in,” he said.
“This win, like every win, is for our city of Dubai and for our fans. We know they are following every game, that they are with us, cheering and giving us all the support and love that we feel from here.
“We are missing them. I know they miss us, and we want to come back home as soon as possible.”
The result carried added significance, ending Zalgiris Kaunas’s four-game unbeaten run in the EuroLeague and marking Dubai as one of the few teams this season to defeat the Lithuanian club both home and away.
With a Top 10 finish required to reach the play-in stage — where teams ranked seventh to 10th compete for the final two playoff spots — the victory keeps Dubai firmly in contention heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
Serbian guard Aleksa Avramovic led the comeback, scoring 12 of his 15 points in the decisive fourth quarter to swing momentum in Dubai’s favour.
He was supported by Davis Bertans and Bruno Caboclo, whose contributions at both ends of the court proved crucial as Dubai closed out the game in front of a partisan 15,000-strong crowd.
Dubai Basketball now face two remaining regular-season fixtures, both to be played in Bosnia, with victories in both probably required to secure a place in the EuroLeague Top 10.
