KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
Dubai Basketball will make a highly anticipated return to the UAE this week after securing home advantage for the opening two fixtures of the ABA League Finals against Serbian powerhouse Partizan Belgrade.
Coca-Cola Arena is set to host the historic encounters on Thursday and Saturday, bringing elite European basketball back to the city for the biggest matches in the club's brief history.
The confirmation from the league ends a protracted period on the road for the franchise, which has been forced to play its home fixtures in Bosnia and Herzegovina since February.
During this relocation spell, Sarajevo and Zenica served as temporary headquarters, making the team's homecoming for the season finale an emotional milestone for the organisation and its regional fan base.
The club booked its place in the showpiece event after delivering a commanding performance in the semi-final decider against Montenegrin side Budućnost.
Having won the opening game of the series before falling short in the second leg, the squad responded emphatically in Zenica with a comprehensive 103-77 victory in Game 3, wrapping up a 2-1 series triumph.
In only their second season of competition, the team has broken new ground as the first UAE-based franchise to reach the finals of a major European basketball league.
This achievement follows their status as the first Gulf region outfit to compete concurrently across two European championships, highlighting their rapid ascent on the international stage.
Reflecting on the achievement, head coach Aleksander Sekulić praised his players for their precision and focus in rebounding from their Game 2 defeat, describing the qualification as a monumental moment for the team.
Meanwhile, joint Chief Executive Officer Dejan Kamenjašević hailed his squad and support staff while expressing confidence in their prospects of glory at the Coca-Cola Arena.
"Over the past few months, our players, staff, and supporters have shown incredible resilience and commitment. Being able to return home for the biggest games in the club's history is a special moment for everyone connected to Dubai Basketball," he said.
"We play these games for Dubai and for our people. Throughout this journey, we have felt the support of our fans wherever we have played, and now we finally have the opportunity to compete in front of them again. We look forward to seeing the Coca-Cola Arena full and creating an unforgettable atmosphere for our city, our supporters and for basketball in the region."