Dubai Basketball completed a remarkable journey by defeating Partizan to clinch the ABA League title, becoming the first Asian team to win the European competition.
Dubai Basketball, the UAE’s first professional basketball club, made history on Friday by winning the ABA League title.
A thrilling 83–81 victory over Partizan in Game 4 of the ABA League Finals sealed the trophy for Dubai Basketball.
The team had taken control of the series earlier, winning the first two games at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai earlier this month.
However, Partizan—one of Europe’s most prominent clubs—responded by winning Game 3 in Belgrade to keep the series alive.
Dubai Basketball held their nerve in the fourth game on the away court to secure a historic victory, becoming the first team from Asia to win one of Europe’s premier basketball leagues.
Dubai Basketball head coach Aleksander Sekulić was left speechless after the final buzzer amid emotional scenes on the court.
“This title means a lot for a club that is only in its second year of existence. We had a great season, and this trophy belongs to everyone who was part of this journey: the players, the coaches, and all the staff who contributed along the way. They all played an important role in what we achieved together,” Sekulić said.
In just their second season as a professional team featuring elite players from Europe, Dubai Basketball demonstrated their quality by competing across two major competitions simultaneously.
While Dubai went on to win the ABA League, they also came close to securing a play-in spot in the EuroLeague, the top-tier basketball competition in Europe after the NBA.
They finished 11th in the EuroLeague before closing their season with a memorable ABA League triumph.
What made the victory especially significant was that regional conflict forced Dubai Basketball to play many of their home matches in Europe, limiting their chances to perform in front of fans at Coca-Cola Arena.
They eventually returned to Dubai for the first two games of the ABA League finals, where they were backed by large home crowds at Coca-Cola Arena.
Lifted by the support, they delivered strong performances, winning Game 1 99–93 on June 4 and Game 2 86–81 on June 6, taking a commanding 2–0 lead in the series.
Although Partizan responded with an 84–70 win in Game 3 on Wednesday, Dubai Basketball held firm in the fourth game to seal the championship.
“It has been a special season because we spent a long period playing away from Dubai, but the team stayed united and kept fighting until the end,” Sekulić said.
“We are proud to bring this title to Dubai and the UAE. This is for our fans and for everyone who supported us throughout the season.”
While the success was built on teamwork and consistency, Dubai Basketball’s Canadian star Mfiondu Kabengele was named ABA League Finals MVP after averaging 15.75 points across the four-game series.
