Dubai Basketball head coach Jurica Golemac remained optimistic despite his team's undefeated start to the 2024-2025 ABA League season ending in a narrow 80-83 loss to Serbia's Mega MIS on Saturday night. The game, attended by NBA and global basketball icons, saw both teams enter Round 3 with a perfect 2-0 record. Mega MIS preserved their flawless start, securing a hard-fought victory in front of nearly 4,000 passionate fans at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.
Among the notable spectators were Denver Nuggets stars Nikola Jokic, a three-time NBA MVP and 2023 Finals champion, and seven-time NBA All-Star Vlatko Čančar, both former Mega MIS players, along with Dario Šarić. They were joined by Denver Nuggets owners Stanley Kroenke and Josh Kroenke, former EuroLeague President Jordi Bartomeu, NBL owner Larry Kestelman, BeoBasket owner Miško Ražnatović, VTB League President Serhiy Kurchenko, and Jose Luis Ortiz, owner of Gigantes Spanish basketball newspaper.
The fans witnessed a thrilling contest decided in the final seconds by a controversial foul call against Awudu Abass, sending Mega MIS's Kosta Kondić to the free throw line. Kondić made three consecutive shots to seal the win. Dubai Basketball had a strong start, leading 24-18 at the end of the first quarter, thanks to Leon Radosevic's three-pointer. By halftime, Dubai Basketball maintained a 45-36 lead, despite Mega MIS finding their rhythm.
The third quarter saw Mega MIS narrow the gap to 63-60, setting up an exciting final period. With the scores tied at 77-77, Kosta Kondić's three-pointer gave Mega MIS a three-point lead. Dubai responded with Danilo Anđušić's tough layup and free throw to tie the game at 80-80. In the final seconds, Kondić's three-point attempt missed, but a foul was called, sending him to the line for three shots. He calmly made all three, finishing as the game's joint-top scorer with Filip Jovic (16 points).
For Dubai Basketball, Isaiah Taylor scored a game-high 14 points and grabbed five rebounds, while captain Klemen Prepelic contributed 13 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Golemac praised his team, emphasizing the positives from the defeat. "We couldn't catch the rhythm and break the game. We were up most of the game, but we never got through, and Mega played extremely energetically and quickly. At crucial moments, we missed a couple of lay-ups and let them shoot open shots," he said.
"The season is a marathon, not a sprint, and we need to learn from our mistakes. Defeats teach you; they make you work harder. In wins, not everything is perfect, and in defeats, not everything is bad," Golemac added. Before the game, fans enjoyed an explosive pre-game show by UAE's Sharmila Dance Center, led by Sharmila Kamte, and a halftime performance by Slovenia's Dunking Devils, who delivered a spectacular display of dunks and acrobatic tricks.
Dubai Basketball's next match is on October 13 against Borac Mozzart in Serbia, followed by a home game against Spartak Subotica on October 20.
