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- Both teams go into Round 3 of Europe鈥檚 ABA League searching for a third straight victory
DUBAI: Dubai Basketball welcomes Serbia鈥檚 Mega MIS to the Coca-Cola Arena on Saturday night for a highly anticipated ABA League game that means one side will lose their perfect start to the season.
Dubai Basketball has stormed on to the scene with an undefeated start to their inaugural ABA League season after a thrilling 86-84 victory over Serbia鈥檚 defending champions, Crvena Zvezda, on the opening night, followed by their first road triumph, a 92-84 win over Slovenia鈥檚 Cedevita Olimpija.
Dubai might be facing their toughest contest yet, as Mega MIS 鈥� last year鈥檚 semi-finalists 鈥� are also unbeaten and looking to top the league鈥檚 standings.
However, Dubai Basketball鈥檚 captain, Klemen Prepelic, who was named the ABA League鈥檚 Fantasy Player of the Week for a stellar Round 2 performance, has been focused on his team鈥檚 preparations, and has called on Dubai fans to show up in force, creating an atmosphere like the one that nearly took the roof off the Coca-Cola Arena in their opener against Crvena Zvezda.
He said: 鈥淥ur fans here in Dubai, they鈥檙e as much a part of the team as any one of us on the roster. When our fans show up in force, they really are the 鈥榮ixth man,鈥� this place (Coca-Cola Arena) gets loud. We all experienced (last week) what our fans can do in big moments, the incredible atmosphere; they can make Coca-Cola Arena the toughest place for opponents to play, and we want to experience that again, all season long.鈥�
Fans can expect a stellar contest, with both sides impressing so far and a sudden rivalry emerging. For Dubai Basketball, Prepelic is the team鈥檚 top points scorer with 39 as well as 14 assists and 8 rebounds while American Nate Mason will also be a threat with a 100 per cent record from his five free throws that have contributed to his 38-point tally.
Mega MIS, known throughout the world for producing NBA superstars, like NBA champion and three-time league MVP, Nikola Jokic, will not be short of confidence as they also aim for a 3-0 record. Filip Jovic (33), Kosta Kondic (32) and Mihailo Petrovic (30) have all passed the 30-point barrier in the opening two games so far.