Dubai Basketball aim to stay perfect as Zadar visit Coca-Cola Arena
The reigning AdmiralBet ABA League champions are back in action on Monday evening, as Dubai Basketball welcome Zadar to Coca-Cola Arena in Round 6 of the 2026/27 season, looking to extend their perfect start to the new campaign.
Elie Okobo, Davion Mintz (Photo: Dubai Basketball)
2026/27 AdmiralBet ABA League Regular Season, Group B, Round 6, Monday, 2 November 2026
DUBAI BASKETBALL – ZADAR
Where? Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai
When? 16:30 CET
Story of the Game: The reigning AdmiralBet ABA League champions are back in action on Monday evening, as Dubai Basketball welcome Zadar to Coca-Cola Arena in Round 6 of the 2026/27 season, looking to extend their perfect start to the new campaign.
Dubai Basketball have picked up right where they left off last season, opening their title defense with four consecutive victories and establishing themselves among the early leaders of Group B. Their impressive offensive production has been one of the main reasons behind this success, with Xavi Pascual's squad averaging 94.5 points per game.
Meanwhile, Zadar arrive in Dubai with a 2-2 record, having experienced a mixed start to the season. However, the visiting side have every reason to approach this encounter with confidence following their convincing 95:70 home victory over Perspektiva Ilirija in the previous round. That performance demonstrated their potential to control games through disciplined defense and efficient offensive execution.
An interesting contrast between the two teams can be found in their statistical profiles. While Dubai have been significantly more productive offensively, Zadar have displayed greater defensive efficiency, allowing just 75.25 points per game compared to Dubai's 82. The visitors will therefore look to slow down the tempo and prevent the hosts from establishing their preferred offensive rhythm.
History, however, favors the home side. Dubai Basketball won both previous AdmiralBet ABA League meetings between these opponents during the 2024/25 campaign, first celebrating a 71:63 victory in Zadar before recording a convincing 92:68 triumph at Coca-Cola Arena.
Match-up in Focus: Mfiondu Kabengele vs. Lovro Buljević
An intriguing battle in the paint could be one of the decisive factors in Monday's encounter, as Dubai Basketball's Mfiondu Kabengele faces Zadar's Lovro Buljević.
Kabengele has once again established himself as one of Dubai's most important players, leading the team in both scoring and rebounding with averages of 14.7 points and 6 rebounds per game.
On the other side, Buljević has enjoyed a really good start to the season, emerging as Zadar's leading scorer with 15 points per game.
Head-to-head score in ABA: In total 2:0; In Dubai 1:0.
