The SC Derby basketball team faced a defeat against Dubai yesterday (98:86) during the 22nd round of the AdmiralBet ABA League.

The “Students” had a promising start, achieving a six-point lead twice (12:6 and 19:13), but the hosts responded with an 11:0 run, seizing a 24:19 advantage and maintaining it throughout the game at the “Coca-Cola Arena”.

“We had a strong start, but it’s important to note that we were up against one of the best teams in the league. Dubai possesses the quality and talent to exploit every mistake. Our poor decisions and errors on offense led to easy points for them. We managed to regain our footing, executed well on offense, and played aggressively… Overall, I would say we performed solidly,” remarked SC Derby coach Petar Mijović post-game.

Luka Bogavac, wearing a protective mask, returned to the lineup after sustaining a broken nose during the European Championship qualifiers against Germany. Igor Drobnjak remains sidelined due to injury.

“This experience is invaluable for our young team, and I’m pleased with several aspects I observed. Throughout the season, we have often struggled to maintain control, but that wasn’t an issue against Dubai. While Dubai deserved their victory, I believe my team’s performance was commendable—quite solid, in fact,” Mijović added.

The SC Derby coach also commented on Dubai’s inaugural participation in the AdmiralBet ABA League, where the UAE team currently holds third place with a record of 17-5.

“We arrived on Thursday and had several training sessions focusing on basketball, organization, and teamwork… Everything is at an exceptional level. From my perspective, Dubai brings something essential to the ABA League – a strong team. They are a Eurocup-level team. It’s a joy to play in front of such enthusiastic fans,” Mijović concluded.

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