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EuroLeague: Dubai Basketball go down fighting to Panathinaikos in Round 33
Dubai Basketball, who lost 107-104 to the Greek side in a match that featured an incredible 24 lead changes from start to finish, now hold a 17–16 record and remain in 11th place in the standings
- PUBLISHED: Wed 25 Mar 2026, 4:23 PM
Dubai Basketball suffered a narrow 107-104 defeat to Panathinaikos Aktor Athens on Tuesday night at Zetra Arena, Sarajevo, in one of the most dramatic games of EuroLeague Round 33, a game that featured an incredible 24 lead changes from start to finish.
Dubai Basketball delivered a very strong first-half performance and at one stage built a 12-point lead, showing excellent rhythm on both ends of the floor. However, the visitors responded before the break and managed to cut the deficit to just three points by halftime (50-47), keeping the game wide open.
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The third quarter proved to be the turning point, as Panathinaikos stepped up offensively and won that period 34-25 to take control of the game. The Greek side entered the final 10 minutes with a 6-point advantage (81-75), putting Dubai Basketball in a difficult position.
Still, the team refused to back down. Dubai fought hard in the fourth quarter and even managed to regain the lead at one stage, setting up a dramatic finish inside a packed arena. In the final three minutes, Panathinaikos hit several tough shots from difficult positions to edge ahead and ultimately secure the win.
Dubai Basketball head coach Jurica Golemac commented on the disappointing result for the home team saying, “We gave away too many easy baskets, with some turnovers that they converted into easy points. In the last quarter, we made some bad decisions in offence, and that led to their win. We had our chances, but they have too much quality not to punish every mistake. All the best to them. We are moving forward.”
Džanan Musa led Dubai Basketball with a season-high 31 points, delivering an outstanding individual performance in a game that went down to the wire. Dubai Basketball now holds a 17–16 record and remains in 11th place in the EuroLeague standings.
The team will now turn its focus to the final round of the regular season as it looks to finish the campaign strongly.
Tuesday night’s clash in Sarajevo was attended by distinguished guests, including Sheikh Mohammed Saqer Al Qasimi, Member of the Ras Al Khaimah royal family, and Ahmed Al Shamsi, Consul General of the UAE in Bosnia and Herzegovina, highlighting the strong connection between Dubai Basketball and the local community that is temporarily hosting the team’s home games.
Sheikh Mohammed Saqer Al Qasimi said, “We love Bosnia. We have received incredible support for Dubai here, which is very important for us. I’m proud to see the name of Dubai in Bosnia and to feel such strong connection from the community. This is an important step for Dubai Basketball, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to be here and connect with the people.”
