Dubai Basketball maintained their flawless start in the ABA League with a 108-90 victory over SC Derby in the fourth round of the regular season at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai. The win extends Dubai’s undefeated record in the competition, highlighting the team’s strong performance despite some challenges.

Dubai’s head coach, Xavi Pascual, acknowledged the team’s uneven performance during a postgame press conference. He noted that while the team’s offense showed promise, particularly in attacking, turnovers remained an area of concern. “The fewer we lose, the better we play,” Pascual said, emphasizing the importance of ball control. With this win secured, the team now shifts focus to an upcoming EuroLeague away game against Bayern Munich.

The match began with Dubai looking to establish dominance early. Several players contributed to the initial momentum, including Dwayne Bacon, who has continued his strong form following his recent EuroLeague performances. SC Derby struggled to find rhythm initially but managed to respond mid-quarter, led by Filip Uskokovic, who was notably active for the visiting side.

Dubai closed out the first quarter strongly, with key contributions from players such as Élie Okobo, Kondic, Walkup, and Diakite, finishing the period with a 10-point lead. The team sustained their offensive rhythm into halftime, capitalizing on effective ball movement and teamwork. Okobo recorded six assists in the first half alone, while scoring was distributed across 12 Dubai players. Bacon led his team with nine points and five rebounds by halftime, complemented by productive performances from role players Dangubić, Kamenjaš, and Kondić.

At the start of the second half, Canadian forward Kabengele made a significant impact, both inside the paint and with occasional long-range shots. Despite trailing by as many as 18 points at one stage, SC Derby mounted a comeback effort, narrowing the deficit to just two points through the combined efforts of Jordano, Pavicevic, and Uskokovic—the latter finishing with a double-double of 22 points and 10 assists.

However, Dubai responded decisively in the final quarter, pulling away with a strong run that quelled Derby’s attempts to close the gap. Kabengele continued to influence the game, while the team as a whole showcased depth and balance, with six players reaching double figures in scoring. Derby’s resilience was evident, but ultimately insufficient to overcome Dubai’s collective effort.

Filip Petrusev was named the game’s most valuable player, contributing 13 points, four rebounds, and three steals. He also made several critical plays in the second half that helped secure the win and prevent Derby’s late rally.

Dubai will look to carry their winning momentum into their next encounter, a EuroLeague matchup scheduled for Thursday against FC Bayern Munich in Germany.