Dubai Basketball Stay Perfect in ABA League as 17-Year-Old Vuckovic Makes History
Dubai Basketball continued their flawless run in the ABA League with a 90–79 victory over Borac Mozzart at Coca-Cola Arena on Monday, extending their unbeaten streak to 12 consecutive wins.
The night also marked a landmark moment for the club and youth basketball development in the UAE, as 17-year-old Tomislav Vuckovic became the first graduate of the Dubai Basketball Academy to start for the senior team in an official competition.
Club officials described his debut as a key milestone in their long-term vision to nurture young talent and guide academy players toward professional careers.
The match began with a rare slow start for the hosts, as Borac Mozzart played with confidence and tempo to take a 23–19 lead at the end of the opening quarter. However, Dubai gradually found their rhythm, led by the experienced backcourt pairing of McKinley Wright and Dwayne Bacon, and entered halftime with a narrow 41–37 advantage.
Dubai’s depth proved decisive in the second half. Strong contributions from newcomer Kenan Kamenjas, along with seasoned players Nemanja Dangubic and Klemen Prepelic, helped maintain control as the team built a steady lead.
Borac Mozzart relied heavily on Marko Josilo and Diante Baldwin for scoring, but the lack of consistent support limited their ability to challenge in the closing stages.
Head coach Jurica Golemac praised his team’s resilience after a demanding schedule.
“It was not an easy game,” he said. “We did not start well, but we found our rhythm in the second half. Everyone shared minutes, nobody got injured, and that is the most important thing for us.”
Dubai managed the final quarter with composure, never allowing the margin to come under serious threat. Bacon finished as the top scorer with 15 points, while Kamenjas added 13 points and seven rebounds.
With momentum firmly on their side, Dubai Basketball now turn their attention to round 22 of the EuroLeague, where they will face Virtus Bologna in a key matchup between two closely ranked sides.
