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ABA League: Dubai Basketball maintain winning streak with a 90-79 victory over Borac Mozzart
The home side gave 17-year-old Tomislav Vuckoki, a product of Dubai Basketball Academy, his first big break by including him in the professional league game at the Coca-Cola Arena
- PUBLISHED: Tue 13 Jan 2026, 3:26 PM
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Dubai Basketball continued their perfect run in the ABA League with a 90-79 victory over Borac Mozzart at Coca-Cola Arena, preserving their unbeaten record rounding their wins streak to 12-0.
The game also marked a historic moment for the club and for basketball development in the UAE. Seventeen-year-old Tomislav Vuckovic, a product of the Dubai Basketball Academy, made his first start for Dubai Basketball, becoming the first academy player to feature, and start, for the senior team in official competition. His inclusion represented a significant milestone in the club’s long-term vision, formally establishing a pathway from youth development to professional basketball in the country.
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The opening quarter did not unfold in line with Dubai’s usual standards. Borac Mozzart began with confidence and tempo, capitalising on early lapses to take a 23-19 lead after the first 10 minutes. As the ex-NBA duo McKinley Wright and Dwayne Bacon orchestrated the offence, Dubai gradually took control and went into halftime with a narrow 41-37 advantage.
Dubai’s depth played a key role as the game progressed. Contributions from newcomer Kenan Kamenjaš along with Dubai veterans Nemanja Dangubić, and Klemen Prepelič helped sustain the advantage, while Borac’s efforts were largely driven by Marko Jošilo and Diante Baldwin. Without consistent support, the visitors were unable to mount a comeback.
Reflecting on the performance, Dubai Basketball head coach Jurica Golemac said, “First of all, congratulations to our players for the win. It was not an easy game, especially after such a tight schedule. We did not start well, but we found our rhythm in the second half and made the game easier. Everyone shared minutes, nobody got injured, and that is the most important thing for us.”
Dubai managed the final quarter with composure, closing out the contest without allowing the margin to come under threat. Dwayne Bacon led the scoring with 15 points, while Kenan Kamenjaš added 13 points and seven rebounds.
The team now heads into Round 22 of EuroLeague against Virtus Bologna, standing 12th in the league — just one position over Dubai.
A decisive showdown and battle for the top spot in the second half of the season, Dubai will play in front of a home crowd rallying for another home win. Fans can secure their seats to the game at: https://coca-cola-arena.com/sports/1739/dubai-basketball-vs-virtus-bologna
