Rory McIlroy alongside members of the Dubai Basketball team. — Supplied photo
After a series of three consecutive away games, Dubai Basketball returned home with a memorable 91-76 win over Slovenia’s Krka, cheered on by an enthusiastic crowd that included Sunday’s Race to Dubai Champion, Rory McIlroy. It had been a month since the team last played at Coca-Cola Arena, and they delivered a stellar performance to recover from last week’s loss, improving their ABA League record to 7-2.
The Dubai Basketball squad was greeted by over 3,300 fans, among them the legendary golfer McIlroy, a passionate basketball enthusiast, who had just clinched his sixth Race to Dubai title at Jumeirah Golf Estates. The four-time Major champion participated in a full-court “Putt for Purpose” challenge, aiming to donate Dh1 million to charity with a hole-in-one, but narrowly missed by a few inches.
JaCorey Williams credited the home crowd for motivating the team and expressed his delight at meeting McIlroy, who had brought his Race to Dubai trophy to Coca-Cola Arena. “We knew it would be a tough game, especially with a break coming up. These types of games are always challenging,” Williams said. “Rory is a top-tier athlete in his field, and it’s an honor to have him here. It was a unique experience to hold such a prestigious trophy, something I’ve never done before. It was quite heavy too.”
Off the court, the entertainment continued as cheerleaders from Sharmila Dance Centre captivated the audience with an impressive display of dance moves that had the crowd on their feet, cheering loudly. With no ABA League games scheduled for next week, Dubai Basketball’s next match will be away in Serbia on November 29 against FMP, followed by a return to Coca-Cola Arena on December 15 to face Mornar.
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