Game 3 of the Quarterfinals against Dubai Basketball is ahead of the Dragons

On Tuesday at 17:30 Slovenian time, the Coca Cola Arena in Dubai will host the decisive third game of the AdmiralBet ABA League quarterfinals between Cedevita Olimpija and Dubai Basketball. After two extremely close encounters, with each team securing one victory, the series moves back to Dubai, where a spot in the regional competition’s semifinals is at stake.

The senior roster of Cedevita Olimpija faces the crucial third game of the AdmiralBet ABA League quarterfinal series against Dubai Basketball. The Dragons will step onto the Coca Cola Arena court in Dubai on Tuesday at 17:30 Slovenian time, with the winner of the matchup in the United Arab Emirates securing a place in the playoff semifinals and a clash with Partizan Mozzart Bet, who eliminated Spartak Office Shoes with a 2:0 series win in the quarterfinals.

The Ljubljana Dragons, with an exceptional performance on their home court in Stožice on Friday, wrote a new chapter in the history of the Ljubljana club and forced a decisive third game. Now, they face a trip to the United Arab Emirates, where they will need all their fighting spirit and the support of fans, who will be able to follow the game via screens.

TV BROADCAST:

The game will be broadcast live on Arena Sport Slovenija 1, with the studio segment starting at 17:10.

PRE-GAME QUOTES:

“Ahead of us is the decisive third quarterfinal game against Dubai, and as I said after the second game, this series definitely deserves this third game because the first two were extremely close and exciting. Considering the regular season as well, this will be our fifth matchup against Dubai this season, with the win tally tied at 2:2. The teams know each other very well, so there can’t be any major surprises. The third game will therefore hinge on focus, composure, the players’ readiness for the game, and ensuring the guys don’t burn out in their desire to advance to the next round of the playoffs. We need to approach the game with focus, calmness, motivation, and clearly defined tasks. The rest day between the second and third games is extremely important, as the trip to Dubai, including bus travel and waiting at the airport, takes almost 10 hours, if not more. We need to be ready to deliver a strong performance, with our goal being a victory and a place in the semifinals,” said Cedevita Olimpija’s head coach, Zvezdan Mitrović, before departing from Ljubljana.

“Win or go home. We’ve battled our opponents multiple times this season, and in the first two games, both sides were extremely competitive. I expect the same in the third game in Dubai. We need to be ready to fight and step onto their home court with a lot of energy. The atmosphere in the arena will surely be intense. We have to be prepared to grind for all 40 minutes and, with a dedicated approach, secure the win for the semifinals,” said Devin Robinson before heading to Dubai. “The first two games were extremely tough. We know that both teams are very familiar with each other, and we’ve been successful in matching up against our opponents. We can be happy that we managed to secure a win on our home court, and now we have a chance to close out the series in Dubai. We know a tough battle awaits us, but we need to do everything to come out with the win.”

GAME PREVIEW:

The first game in Dubai delivered thrilling basketball, with the Dragons narrowly falling to the hosts, 85:86. Despite the loss, they showed they can compete on equal terms with Dubai’s star-studded roster, led by former Ljubljana coach Jurica Golemac and dominated on the court by players like Klemen Prepelič, Davis Bertans, and Awudu Abass. Cedevita Olimpija led for much of the game, but a decisive shot by DJ Stewart missed the mark. Danilo Tasić was the top scorer for the Green-and-Orange with 17 points, Brynton Lemar added 15, and Devin Robinson contributed 10.

The second game in Stožice was a true basketball treat. Cedevita Olimpija, fueled by the roaring support of their fans, delivered a gritty performance and defeated Dubai 94:89, leveling the series at 1:1 in wins. The hero of the night was Aleksej Nikolić, who led the Dragons to victory with an outstanding 30 points, including five three-pointers out of eight attempts.

He was supported by Devin Robinson (16 points), Brynton Lemar (15 points), DJ Stewart (12 points), and Jaka Blažič (9 points), who, with team play and tough defense, broke Dubai’s resistance. Despite strong pushback from the visitors, led by Danilo Anđušić (23 points), the Ljubljana side kept their cool in key moments and proved they are ready for the decisive battle.

The third game brings a new chapter in this intense series. Dubai, which hadn’t lost 14 consecutive games in the regional league before Friday’s defeat in Stožice, will aim to capitalize on their home-court advantage and the experience of their players. Cedevita Olimpija arrives in Dubai with high confidence and a desire to pull off an upset and defeat the favored opponents.

ADMIRALBET ABA LEAGUE, QUARTERFINALS

GAME 3

Coca Cola Arena (Dubai, United Arab Emirates), Tuesday, May 20, at 19:30 (17:30 SLO):
DUBAI BASKETBALL – CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA (TV broadcast on Arena Sport Slovenija 1) [1:1]*

*Win tally. The quarterfinal series is played to two wins.

PREVIOUSLY PLAYED:

GAME 1

Coca Cola Arena (Dubai, United Arab Emirates), Sunday, May 11:
DUBAI BASKETBALL – CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA 86:85 (20:19, 23:26, 21:20, 22:20)
Cedevita Olimpija: Stewart 8, Robinson 10, Jones 2, Radović 3, Nikolić 11, Glas 2, Lemar 15 (5 rebounds), Blažič 6, Beringer 2 (6 rebounds), Stipanović 9, Tasić 17, Daneu.

STATISTICS
PHOTO GALLERY
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
MORE ABOUT THE GAME

GAME 2

Stožice Arena (Ljubljana, Slovenia), Friday, May 16:
CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA – DUBAI BASKETBALL 94:89 (26:22, 19:26, 27:18, 22:23)
Cedevita Olimpija: Stewart 12, Robinson 16 (10 rebounds), Jones, Radović 4, Nikolić 30 (5 assists), Glas, Lemar 15, Blažič 9 (5 rebounds), Beringer 4 (5 rebounds), Stipanović 4, Tasić, Daneu.

STATISTICS
PHOTO GALLERY
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
MORE ABOUT THE GAME

LOOKING AHEAD:

In the week ahead, Cedevita Olimpija’s senior roster will also begin the semifinals of the national championship against Terme Olimia Podčetrtek. The first game in the best-of-three series is scheduled for Thursday at 18:00 in the Podčetrtek Sports Hall, with the second game on Saturday in Stožice. A potential third game is currently slated for Saturday, May 31, at 18:00 in the Podčetrtek Sports Hall.