Dubai Basketball return home with two consecutive victories.
Dubai Basketball continued their impressive EuroLeague form on Thursday night, claiming a hard-fought 101–97 victory over Olimpia Milano at the Assago Forum in Round 6 of the regular season.
The result marked Dubai’s second successive away triumph, following their earlier win against Baskonia, as the team completed a perfect two-match European road trip against two experienced EuroLeague opponents.
Milano began the contest strongly, dominating the rebounds and converting opportunities from beyond the three-point line to establish an early 11-point advantage.
However, Dubai quickly regained their composure after Head Coach Pascual called a timeout, with Bacon inspiring an impressive turnaround.
The guard delivered an outstanding first-quarter performance, scoring 14 points without missing a single shot. His clinical finishing helped Dubai erase the deficit and move six points ahead by the end of the opening period.
Dubai carried that attacking rhythm into the second quarter, with Elie Okobo taking on greater scoring responsibility while Bacon was on the bench.
Kabengele also played an important role in the paint, contributing 10 points during the first half and helping Dubai maintain control of the contest.
By the halftime break, Bacon had accumulated 17 points, Okobo had added 10 and Wright had chipped in with six, giving Dubai a comfortable seven-point lead.
Following the interval, Bacon continued to spearhead Dubai’s offensive efforts as the visitors strengthened their grip on the game.
Their advantage increased to 15 points heading into the fourth quarter, reflecting a strong collective performance on both ends of the court.
With several players contributing offensively and the team maintaining its defensive pressure, Dubai continued to build momentum and eventually stretched their lead to an impressive 20 points.
Olimpia Milano staged a determined comeback in the final quarter, capitalising on a series of Dubai Basketball errors to cut what had been a substantial lead to just two points in the closing moments.
Despite the late pressure, Dwayne Bacon held his nerve at the free-throw line, converting crucial attempts to seal a 101–97 victory and ensure Dubai returned from Italy with another valuable EuroLeague success.
Bacon delivered a standout performance, finishing as the game’s leading scorer with 29 points, including a flawless six successful three-pointers from six attempts.
Kabengele provided strong support with 18 points, while James Blossomgame added 14 to Dubai’s total.
The victory capped an outstanding week for Dubai Basketball, who registered consecutive away wins against Baskonia and Olimpia Milano, further strengthening their standing in the EuroLeague regular season.
Reflecting on the team’s display, Head Coach Xavi Pascual praised the overall performance but acknowledged that lapses in concentration had allowed Milano to threaten a late comeback.
“We worked very well on offence and defence. Then in the last five minutes, we lost focus and made too many mistakes, including the six free throws that allowed Milan to close the gap. Dwayne Bacon was a leader today in many ways. He spent too much time on the bench at the end, but he was truly excellent,” Pascual said.
Dubai Basketball will now shift their attention to domestic regional competition as they return to Coca-Cola Arena on Monday, October 19, to begin their ABA League title defence.
The team will face SC Derby in front of their home supporters, looking to carry the momentum from their successful EuroLeague road trip into the new campaign.
