Dubai Basketball Franchise To Make Historic Debut In ABA League

The newly-formed Dubai Basketball franchise, established by UAE’s Abdulla Saeed Al Naboodah, will compete in the Adriatic Basketball Association (ABA) League for the 2024/25 season. Their first match is set against Serbian Red Star on the weekend of 22nd September at the Coca-Cola Arena, which can host 14,000 basketball fans.

Thirdy Ravena from the Philippines expressed his enthusiasm about joining the team. He said, "To sign for this club means a lot to me. I always love a new challenge and it’s nice to be part of a team that has brought together accomplished players – some of whom have been my idols. To represent Dubai and the Philippines in a European league also means a lot to me, and hopefully we can do our best for the city."

The team boasts a diverse roster of 12 players from eight countries: the Philippines, Türkiye, USA, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, and Jordan. This mix of talent aims to make an impact in their debut season while playing in front of home fans at Coca-Cola Arena.

Leon Radosevic, a former Bayern Munich player and U-19 world bronze medalist from Croatia, is another key addition. The 34-year-old stated that joining Dubai Basketball was an easy decision and he is committed to giving his best for the team.

Klemen Prepelic from Slovenia brings significant experience as well. A 2017 European champion with his national team and a former Real Madrid player, Prepelic commented on his excitement: "It's a privilege to be part of this first team, and we are all looking forward to doing something special."

Aleksa Uskokovic, a 25-year-old Serbian Point Guard, shared his thoughts on joining Dubai Basketball. He mentioned that while it will be challenging as they are a new team, he is excited about this new chapter. "The city is very nice," he said, "so we have everything that we need to train at our best."

Pathway to EuroLeague

The ABA League serves as a qualifying tournament for the EuroLeague. The EuroLeague is considered the second most important basketball league globally after North America's NBA. This provides an excellent opportunity for Dubai Basketball to showcase their skills on an international stage.

This historic season promises excitement as players look forward to representing Dubai in Europe. With such a strong lineup and support from local fans at Coca-Cola Arena, expectations are high for their performance in the ABA League.

The combination of experienced international players and local support sets up Dubai Basketball for an exciting journey ahead. Fans eagerly await their debut match against Serbian Red Star.

With inputs from WAM