Dubai Returns to Winning Ways in the EuroLeague With a Strong Victory Over Hapoel Tel Aviv

14 hours ago

14 hours ago

Dubai Returns to Winning Ways in the EuroLeague With a Strong Victory Over Hapoel Tel Aviv

2026-10-30T22:58+04:00

Dubai returned to winning ways in the EuroLeague Round 9 at Coca-Cola Arena, defeating Hapoel Tel Aviv 97–83 thanks to an outstanding performance from the home side.

Xavi Pascual opted to start with Wright, Musa, Bacon, Shengelia and Kabengele.

The game started at a slow pace, but Kabengele immediately made his presence felt around the basket and on the boards. The game remained balanced, with Odiase performing well for Hapoel. Coming off the bench, Filip Petrušev attempted to give Dubai the edge with five crucial points. However, Micić's three-pointer at the buzzer closed the first quarter with the visitors leading 22–19.

Dubai came out strong at the start of the second quarter, producing a superb 18–2 run. It was an excellent team performance, with everyone contributing on the court, particularly Musa with his playmaking, while Okobo and Wright added points on the scoreboard. A fluid attack and tough defence saw Dubai dominate the opening minutes of the second quarter. Hapoel fought back in the final minutes, with Oturu leading the charge, but Dubai maintained a 45–40 lead heading into half-time.

After the break, Dubai once again took control of the game. Four players reached double figures, with Petrušev leading the scoring, while excellent team play helped Dubai build a double-digit lead. Elie Okobo's jump shot closed the third quarter with Dubai ahead 74–60. The game also saw a worrying moment for Hapoel Tel Aviv's Tomas Satoransky, who suffered a heavy fall and was assisted off the court on a stretcher by medical staff.

Dubai managed the final quarter well, holding off Hapoel Tel Aviv's attempts to mount a comeback and maintaining its strong offensive performance. Petrušev continued to shine, while Blossomgame and Okobo also made important plays in the closing minutes. Dubai confidently held on to its lead to close out the game with an 87–73 victory.

Xavi Pascual spoke after the game: “First of all, I hope Tomas Satoransky is okay. We worked together for many years; he was a player of mine, and I wish him all the best. As for the game, it was a great reaction today. We played very well. It was a very complete match tactically. Great work on defence, as a team, and also on offence. I really liked our performance.”

Filip Petrušev was named MVP of the game after recording 20 points, shooting 6/6 from two-point range and 8/9 from the free-throw line. Okobo added 18 points and five assists, while Bacon also delivered a strong performance with 17 points and five rebounds.

Dubai Basketball will return to action at the Coca-Cola Arena next Monday, 2 November, facing Zadar in the ABA League, where the team remains undefeated.