Dubai Basketball keep their perfect run going as they beat U-BT Cluj-Napoca

2025/26 AdmiralBet ABA League Group A Round 3, Sunday, 19 October 2025:

DUBAI BASKETBALL – U-BT Cluj-Napoca 81:77 (28:22, 13:12, 18:21, 22:22)

PHOTO GALLERY

Game recap: Dubai Basketball continued their dream start to the 2025/26 AdmiralBet ABA League season with another hard-fought victory - this time against debutants U-BT Cluj-Napoca, winning 81:77 to secure their third consecutive win and stay perfect at the top of the Group A standings.

The hosts controlled the game for most of the night, showcasing their trademark offensive balance and inside dominance. Still, the league  newcomers once again proved they belong among the ABA elite - fighting back from a double-digit deficit to make it a thriller in the final minutes.

Key moments: After Dubai Basketball had led almost the entire game, U-BT Cluj-Napoca turned things around midway through the fourth quarter, taking their first lead at 59:60. That’s when Sertac Sanli stepped up in spectacular fashion.

In a span of less than two minutes, the Turkish big man scored 8 consecutive points - two three-pointers and a 2-pointer - completely shifting the momentum back in Dubai’s favor. His clutch burst helped the hosts regain control, but Cluj didn’t go away quietly. In the final minute, the visitors missed two key free throws and a couple of big three-point attempts that could have changed things down on the court, allowing Dubai Basketball to hold on until the buzzer.

Man of the Match: Mfiondu Kabengele.

Dubai’s new powerhouse in the paint once again proved why he’s among the best summer signings in the league. Mfiondu Kabengele delivered a dominant double-double performance - 18 points and 11 rebounds - providing both energy and composure when it mattered the most.

Can’t Trick the Stats: The details decided this one: missed free throws and crucial threes at the end for Cluj, and Sanli’s red-hot stretch in the 4th quarter turned the game Dubai Basketball’s way.