Dubai Basketball Edge Real Madrid 78-77 in Thrilling EuroLeague Home Opener

Dubai Basketball opened their EuroLeague campaign with a memorable 78-77 victory over Spanish giants Real Madrid on Thursday night at a packed Coca-Cola Arena. The hosts held their nerve in a tense finish to secure a historic one-point win.

The match stayed tight for the majority of the nite, with neither team able to gain a significant edge for long. Dubai ultimately found enough calmness in the dying minutes to hold on to their lead and win the battle.

Before the game, players, coaches, and fans held a minute of remembrance for His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who died on Monday. Dubai is presently in a 10-day formal mourning phase, with flags flying half-mast around the city.

Dubai Basketball Take Control After the Break

Dubai had a quicker start and finished the first quarter with a 20-16 edge. Real Madrid answered swiftly in the second session, turning the game around with a 28-18 quarter to lead 44-38 at halftime.

The home team came out strong after the interval and shifted the momentum once more. Dubai outscored Real Madrid 25-18 in the third quarter, regaining the lead before the pivotal fourth quarter.

The fourth quarter saw again another close struggle. Both teams scored 15 points, but Dubai remained cool as the time wound down, preventing Real Madrid from making another comeback.

Dwayne Bacon led Dubai’s scoring effort with 24 points and played a major part in the home side’s attacking performance. Mfiondu Kabengele and Filip Petrušev also made important defensive contributions as Dubai remained organized under pressure.

Dubai Basketball Coach Praises Supporters

After the game, head coach Xavi Pascual commended his players for handling the pressure and hailed the Coca-Cola Arena’s capacity crowd.

Pascual stated that the atmosphere made the first game memorable and expressed optimism that Dubai will continue to draw more fans during the season. He stated that one of the campaign’s most significant goals would be to forge a solid bond between the club and basketball fans in the city.

The coach also expressed his delight that people who attended the game were able to enjoy themselves and thanked everyone who came to support the squad.

The victory marks an amazing start to Dubai Basketball’s second EuroLeague season. The club will now prepare for another huge home test when FC Barcelona visits the Coca-Cola Arena on Tuesday, September 29.