Dubai stages remarkable comeback, keeping EuroLeague play-off hopes alive.
Dubai: Dubai Basketball delivered a remarkable performance in their EuroLeague debut, mounting a strong fourth-quarter rally to defeat Žalgiris Kaunas 77-65 in Round 36, keeping their play-off ambitions alive.
Facing one of the league’s toughest teams, Dubai trailed by 14 points (53-39) going into the final quarter, with a top-10 finish hanging in the balance.
What followed was an extraordinary display of determination, as Dubai outscored Žalgiris 38-12 in the final 10 minutes, nearly matching their combined total from the first three quarters.
Speaking after the game, Dubai Basketball Head Coach Jurica Golemac lauded his team’s resilience and thanked the fans, saying, “We didn’t give up, we never lost faith.”
“I think defensively we played one of our best games of the season. We were completely locked in. This victory, like every win, is for the city of Dubai and our fans.”
“We know they are following every game, cheering us on and giving us all the support and love we feel from here.
“We miss them, and I know they miss us too. We want to return home as soon as possible.”
The victory was significant both for the standings and historically. By defeating Žalgiris Kaunas, Dubai ended the Lithuanian team’s four-game EuroLeague winning streak and became one of the few teams this season to beat them on both home and away courts, underscoring Dubai’s growing influence on Europe’s top basketball stage.
With a play-in spot still up for grabs and Dubai currently just outside the Top 10, the stakes were high. Securing a Top 10 finish would allow the team to advance to the next stage of the EuroLeague, where teams ranked 7th to 10th compete for the final two play-off positions.
Driving Dubai’s comeback was Serbian guard Aleksa Avramović, who dominated the fourth quarter. He scored 12 of his 15 points in the final period, shifting the momentum decisively in Dubai’s favor and finishing as the team’s top scorer.
He was strongly supported by Davis Bertans and Bruno Caboclo, whose combined efforts on both ends of the court helped secure the win in front of 15,000 opposing fans. The trio maintained focus and intensity in the closing minutes, ensuring Dubai held onto their advantage.
With only two games remaining in the EuroLeague regular season—both home fixtures in Bosnia—winning both matches will be crucial for Dubai to secure a Top 10 finish and advance to the play-in stage.
