As the regular season nears its conclusion, SC Derby’s basketball players have found some relief—they’re well clear of the teams battling for survival and those vying for a spot in the AdmiralBet ABA League playoffs.

With a record of seven wins and 14 losses, the team led by Petar Mijović is set to travel to Dubai today at 5 PM to face a newcomer who has proven to be competitive in this season’s regional competition.

Dubai is amongst the frontrunners for the top of the standings, alongside Partuzan, Red Star, and Budućnost Voli, placing them as favorites in the matchup against the “students.”

“Aside from the injured Igor Drobnjak, I believe we have had nearly our entire team at training for the first time since the Montenegrin Cup. This represents a significant moment for us after facing numerous challenges,” stated Mijović.

While Dubai is formidable, Derby almost secured a victory against them earlier this season at “Morača” (87:86).

“There’s no need to dwell too much on Dubai. They are one of the teams with the highest individual talent in the ABA League. The results indicate what this team is built for this season. We performed admirably against this opponent in the first part of the season, with the outcome coming down to the last possession. Currently, the situation is a bit different, with them having strengthened their lineup while we are missing some starters, making them the clear favorites,” Mijović emphasized, adding:

“This game presents another opportunity for us to make progress. To stay competitive, our defense must be at a top level, particularly in one-on-one situations and pick-and-roll defense,” Mijović concluded.

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