In an exciting match of the 20th round of the ABA League, Dubai Basketball Club defeated Spartak Office Shoes 90-84 in Subotica (Serbia). The game showcased the strengths of both teams, but ultimately the resilience and experience of Dubai decided the outcome of the encounter.
From the very first tip-off, it was clear that Dubai was set to dominate. As head coach of Dubai Basketball Jurica Golemac said after the game: “We had to play with intensity and good discipline. Our defensive rotations were key.” This approach paid off when Dubai led for most of the game, achieving an impressive +16 lead in the second half of the third quarter.
However, Spartak was not about to give up. Their coach Vladimir Jovanović acknowledged the challenge: “Dubai is an extremely experienced and quality team against which you need to be precise and persistent, especially in defensive tasks.” Despite all their efforts, Spartak managed to significantly reduce the deficit in the final minutes, even taking a brief lead at 84-82.
The decisive moment came when Isaiah Taylor stepped up for Dubai. With just seconds left, his crucial shot secured the win. “Spartak is a good team,” Taylor concluded after the game. “We had a tough battle last time. We wanted to finish strongly before the break.”
Key game statistics showed Taylor’s dominance with 22 points and 6 assists, while Danilo Anjušić added 17 points. On Spartak’s side, Danilo Nikolich scored as many points, showing strong resistance despite the loss.
Luka Cerovina, a player for Spartak, admitted that pre-game expectations were high: “We expected a tough game against a potent offensive team like Dubai. With proper defense and energy, we hoped for a victory.” Although they nearly achieved it, consistency was lacking.
This win marked Dubai’s third in a row, moving them up to fourth place in the standings with a record of 15-5. Meanwhile, Spartak remains seventh with ten wins and losses, signaling the need for improvements if they want to secure a playoff spot.
As the league progresses, both teams have important matches ahead. For Dubai, maintaining this momentum will be critical, while Spartak needs to find ways to replicate their strong performances consistently throughout the games.
