Dubai BC win another thriller as they beat SC Derby in Podgorica

2024/25 AdmiralBet ABA League Round 7, Saturday, 2 November 2024:

SC Derby – DUBAI BC 86:87 (16:22, 20:23, 26:19, 24:23)

PHOTO GALLERY

Game recap: Dubai BC have continued with exceptional results in their first ever AdmiralBet ABA League campaign as they defeated SC Derby on the road in Round 7 of the 2024/25 regular season.

And the league newcomers have once again came on top of the real basketball thriller as this was already their 3^rd narrow win in the ongoing season. After beating reigning champions Crvena zvezda Meridianbet in the opening round by 86:84 and after defeating their fellow league newcomers Spartak Office Shoes two weeks ago by 80:79, this time Dubai BC prevailed over SC Derby by 87:86.

Isaiah Taylor made the key free throw just 10 seconds before the end to put the away team in front – 87:86, while in the remaining time Davis Bertans and Awudu Abass forced SC Derby’s best player in tonight’s game Erick Neal to lose control over the ball and to miss the opportunity to win the game for the hosts. 

Dubai BC have therefore improved their season score to 6-1, while SC Derby dropped to 3-4.

Key moments: Dubai BC have won this match in almost identical fashion as they won the match against Spartak Office Shoes two weeks ago. Back when, Isaiah Taylor scored the clutch lay-up that put Dubai BC in front with just couple of seconds remaining on the game clock, while then the boys coached by Jurica Golemac played an excellent defense to prevent their rivals to score a game-winner.

This evening in Podgorica, Isaiah Taylor was once again the man who made the key bucket. Dubai BC point guard went for a drive and forced Emir Hadžibegović to make a foul, after which the American point guard made one out of two free throws to give his team the lead – 87:86.

SC Derby did not have any more time-outs, but they did not need one to make a clear plan for the last ball-possession – give the ball to Eric Neal. The SC Derby’s star player scored 34 points tonight and it was expected that he would try to win the game for the hosts. However, Neal faced an excellent defense of Davis Bertans and Awudu Abass and while attempting to escape the two defenders he lost control over the ball.

SC Derby team did pick up the ball, but there was simply no more time on the game clock and the score remained 87:86 for Dubai BC.

Man of the match: This was as close as you can get to the real team win. Dubai BC used 10 players (with the 10^th being Thurdy Ravena who spent just couple of seconds on the court), while 7 of them reached double-digits in scoring! Therefore, this time we will say that the man of the match award belongs to the whole team of Dubai BC.

Can’t trick the stats: Dubai BC’s excellent team work brought them much more assists than the home team had. Dubai BC made 19 assists tonight, while SC Derby had just 10.