Dubai Basketball kick-off ABA League title defence with a win

Dubai Basketball secured a convincing 85-70 victory over Perpektiva Ilirija in their ABA League title defence at Ljubljana's Tivoli Sports Hall. Head coach Xavi Pascual implemented a rotation strategy, featuring Thomas Walkup, Davion Mintz, Tornike Shengelia, and Mamadi Diakite alongside Dwayne Bacon. Headliners McKinley Wright IV, Mfiondu Kabengele, and Davis Bertans remained on the bench, while Elie Okobo and Jaron Blossomgame entered the game during halftime.

Dubai demonstrated early dominance, converting five of their initial seven three-point attempts and building a 16-8 lead after the first quarter. Ilirija responded with a five-point surge, but Dubai regained their offensive momentum late in the period, extending their lead to ten points. The second quarter started cautiously for Dubai, as they missed their first three attempts, but they quickly adjusted, executing a 17-0 run to cement a 20-point halftime cushion.

Their shooting accuracy from beyond the arc stood at 7-of-14. Dubai's depth shone through in the second quarter, with Kenan Kamenjas contributing seven rebounds in seven minutes. At the break, Pascual further altered his lineup, benching Kosta Kondic, Okobo, Nemanja Dangubic, Blossomgame, and Diakite. Okobo made a swift impact after being reintroduced, connecting on a three-pointer and setting up Kamenjas for a powerful basket.

He remained on the court for the entirety of the third quarter, tallying eight points and two assists before being substituted out in the game's final moments. Dubai entered the final quarter with a 24-point advantage and maintained control comfortably, managing the clock as Ilirija attempted a late comeback. Despite finishing strongly with a 16-5 run, Dubai's margin proved insurmountable, resulting in a comfortable victory for Dubai and a three-point start to their ABA League campaign.

Edo Muric led the scoring for Ilirija with 15 points and five rebounds, while Davion Mintz was the top scorer for Dubai with 20 points, shooting proficiently from both field goals (7-of-12) and three-point range (5-of-9). Kamenjas added 11 points and eight rebounds for Dubai, while Shengelia contributed 11 points and four assists.

The UAE-based team will now regroup and prepare for their EuroLeague Round 4 matchup against Crvena Zvezda on October 8.