Dubai basketball team secures a stunning victory: defeating Milan 99-92.

Dubai: Dubai Basketball further solidified its home-court advantage on Tuesday, defeating EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 99-92 in Round 18 of the EuroLeague at the Coca-Cola Arena, cheered on by over 5,000 fans.
The home team got off to a fast start and quickly established dominance on both ends of the court. Canadian center Mfiondu Kabengele and Serbian big man Filip Petrušev controlled the paint early on, creating close-range scoring opportunities and forcing Milan to make defensive adjustments. McKinley Wright IV and Dwayne Bacon added speed and penetration, allowing Dubai to build a double-digit lead and dictate the pace of the first quarter.
Milan struggled to settle in and spent most of the first period on the back foot, as Dubai’s lead stretched to 15 points. Although the visitors composed themselves as the quarter progressed, the early deficit proved costly.
Dubai head coach Jurica Golemac praised the impact of the home crowd after the game, saying: “Congratulations to the fans. We definitely missed them in the last home game, and they helped us a lot. In the first quarter, we played one of our best quarters of the season. The next game is in three days at home, so there’s not much time to rest. We have to prepare for that game first. We’re not thinking about three games ahead — we prepare for every game and try to win every game.”
Milan showed better rhythm in the second quarter, but Dubai responded before the break. Bacon exploited defensive weaknesses from beyond the arc, while Kabengele delivered strong finishes from inside, allowing the home team to maintain a seven-point lead at halftime.
The final period saw more composure than spectacular play. Milan attempted to equalize on several occasions, but missed free throws and turnovers hampered their momentum. Bacon sealed the outcome from the free-throw line in the final two minutes, giving Dubai a double-digit lead once again and effectively ending the contest.
Bacon led all scorers with 25 points, while Wright contributed 19 points and nine assists. Kabengele added 17 points, and Petrusev chipped in with 13 points and seven rebounds. For Milan, Guduric topped the scoring with 11 points, along with seven rebounds and seven assists. Dubai Basketball is now focusing on the ABA League, where they remain undefeated. The team will return to the Coca-Cola Arena to face KRKA of Slovenia in Round 12 of that competition.