Dubai Basketball lead the ABA League Quarter-Finals series 1-0 after comfortably beating Spartak Office Shoes in today’s Round 1 of the best-of-three in Zetra Arena, Sarajevo, winning 102:74.
Dubai started strong already in the first quarter, scoring 31 points and leading by 9 (31:22). The advantage continued to grow in the first two quarters as Dubai Basketball left it linked with a 54:41 lead.
The home team hit the gas again after intermission. In the third quarter, Dubai Basketball served a 30-point arsenal within the next 3rd period to strengthen their reluctance to leave without victory in this series and pushed 63:84 at that point.
All questions about the winner were removed at the beginning of the last quarter, when Dubai Basketball scored 11:0 to gain an impressive gap of 36 points (95:59). The rest of the game was merely a formality for the 28-point win side.
The reaction after the little longer breather was very important. That reaction was excellent, especially the defense,” said Dubai Basketball head coach Aleksander Sekulić.
My perspective is that we wanted to be concerned about our game, how we want to play and the execution at both ends. I believe we played well and ended the first game strongly but we have to now concentrate on the second because without it, this result counts for nothing.
Džanan Musa and Mfiondu Kabengele powered Dubai Basketball to the win with standout games. Musa posted his ABA League season-high 31 points, and Kabengele finished with a strong all-around effort of 16 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists.
The victory (1-0) sees Dubai Basketball stand one win away from the semi-finals. The Sunday night match will take place in Subotica from 10 May.