Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
Dubai Basketball will look to make an immediate impact when they face European giants Real Madrid in the opening game of their 2026/27 campaign at the inaugural EuroLeague Basketball SuperCup in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
The UAE's representatives are in action at 9pm at Etihad Arena, with the winner advancing to Saturday’s final against either reigning EuroLeague champions Olympiacos Piraeus, or 2025 winners Fenerbahce Tarfin Istanbul.
The first-of-its-kind tournament brings together four leading European clubs.
For Dubai Basketball, it is an opportunity to test a revamped squad against one of the most decorated clubs in European basketball, while also beginning a season in which coach Xavi Pascual has set the target of reaching the EuroLeague’s extra season.
Pascual acknowledged the challenge facing his side but stressed that the hosts were not treating the SuperCup merely as preparation. “Always we have something to lose when we play in one competition like this one that is so amazing. We want to push Dubai as high as possible, and we are coming to compete,” he said.
The Spaniard has had limited time to work with his complete squad, with the first full-team practice only taking place on September 4. Dubai subsequently travelled to Antalya, where they played four demanding friendly matches against high-level opposition.
“It’s a little bit early for all of us,” Pascual said. “We need to work and work and work in order to achieve the maximum level, but let’s try.”
Dubai have retained 13 players from last season while adding six new faces, giving Pascual a core with some continuity despite the arrival of a new coaching system.
Amid the changes within the team, while balancing club and national duties, Dubai captain Klemen Prepelic believes that preparation has given Dubai enough confidence to approach their biggest challenge yet with ambition rather than caution.
“For sure we are here to win, that’s first of all,” the Slovenia international said. “We have assembled as a good bunch with experienced players. Dubai is built to be first, as a city, as a country, so obviously we are here to win.
“We had the right team chemistry we wanted to get, and obviously we had four difficult matches [in Antalya],” he said. “I believe we came back on time, we had time to get back to the time zone, to the weather as well, and now we are here.”
Real Madrid will provide a formidable first test. The Spanish giants are the record 11-time European champions and enter the SuperCup as last season’s EuroLeague runners-up.
Senior player Sergio Llull, Real Madrid’s all-time leading scorer and a two-time All-EuroLeague selection, expects Dubai to provide a serious challenge despite their relative inexperience on the European stage.
“I think that it’s not going to be an easy match,” Llull said. “They have a really great team. They signed a lot of new good players and we also signed some players. So it’s the first official game for both teams.”
Llull also dismissed the idea that Real Madrid could approach the contest as favourites simply because of their European pedigree.
“Maybe, maybe. But as I said, we have a new coach, new players,” he said. “So we have to keep practising, keep improving. It’s early in the season. For sure they will be hyper-motivated to play against Real Madrid and it will be a hard match for us.”
Pascual echoed that sentiment; the fighting spirit they show will also reflect well in the EuroLeague where they suffered the agony of missing out in 11th position when the top 10 get to advance for extra games.
“We are going to play hard... for sure we are here to try to be as high as possible on the standings and to play in the playoffs, so this is our goal as of now,” he added.
The SuperCup begins with Olympiacos facing Fenerbahce at 6pm on Friday.
