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jun 13 2026Dubai Basketball has claimed its first major title. The Emirati club won the ABA League championship by defeating Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade 81-83 in Game 4 of the finals at Belgrade Arena. With this victory, Dubai closed out the series 3-1 and captured the championship in just their second season of existence.
The title came in a high-pressure setting with a tense finish. Dubai struck first with an aggressive start, jumping out to a 2-11 lead in the opening minutes and forcing Joan Peñarroya to call a timeout. Partizan responded after the stoppage and managed to get back into the game, though they could only take the lead on two occasions and by the slimmest of margins. At the end of the first quarter, Dubai led 21-23.
The second period followed the same script of equilibrium. Neither team managed to open up a significant lead, and the visiting squad went into halftime with a minimal advantage of 39-40. The balance remained after the break, with Dubai finding important points through three-pointers from Dzanan Musa, the reliability of Mfiondu Kabengele from the free throw line, and a strong stretch from Davis Bertans. The third quarter ended 59-60, leaving everything to play for in the final ten minutes.
That's when Aleksa Avramovic appeared. The former Partizan player stepped up in the crucial moments and delivered decisive plays to keep Dubai afloat down the stretch. On a court charged with pressure and before a crowd fully behind the home team, Avramovic kept his composure and guided his team toward a historic victory.
Avramovic led Dubai with 15 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Mfiondu Kabengele added 14 points and 8 rebounds, shooting a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line, while Justin Anderson and McKinley Wright contributed 12 points each. Dzanan Musa rounded out the main contributors with 11 points.
For Partizan, Isaac Bonga and Sterling Brown led the scoring with 16 points apiece. Tonye Jekiri and Bruno Fernando added 12 points each, while Dylan Osetkowski and Carlik Jones finished with 10 points.
The final 81-83 score confirms the competitive arrival of Dubai Basketball in the regional elite. In just two years of existence, the club can already boast of conquering the ABA League, and they did it by winning the title in Belgrade, on one of Europe's most demanding courts.
