Dubai Basketball will officially kick off its second EuroLeague season on Thursday against Real Madrid, following a tight overtime loss to the same team just five days prior. Last year, Dubai finished 11th in their inaugural EuroLeague season, just outside the play-in positions, while also claiming the ABA League championship. With a deeper roster and heightened expectations, the team aims for greater success under the leadership of renowned coach Xavi Pascual.
Read More
Pascual, who takes the helm at Dubai, emphasizes continuity and progression in the team's development, describing the opportunity as a step forward following prior successes. "Dubai did a great job during the previous years, and now I'm coming here to take one step further," Pascual stated. The 54-year-old coach boasts an impressive coaching background, including eight years at Barcelona, where he secured 19 trophies, and successful stints with Panathinaikos and Zenit St Petersburg.
His decision to join Dubai, announced on July 14 and set to last through 2029, has been met with interest in Spain. Pascual noted that he chose Dubai for its strong organization, outstanding facilities, and talented players. He emphasized a desire to maintain tactical organization while infusing the team with a faster pace of play.
In their recent EuroLeague SuperCup semi-final against Real Madrid, Dubai demonstrated their potential, leading by 16 points before ultimately losing 98-95. This performance showcased the closeness of the team to competing at the highest level in European basketball.
Pascual aims to implement a high-tempo approach, focusing on energy and discipline. He has inherited a stronger squad, including standout players like McKinley Wright IV, who was named EuroLeague MVP of the Month during the last season. Wright expressed confidence in the team's new additions and their ability to compete in both the EuroLeague and the ABA League.
New recruit Jaron Blossomgame expressed enthusiasm about playing for Pascual, acknowledging his high-level coaching and championship experience. The roster includes players like Tornike Shengelia and Iñigo Zorzano, who also joined from Barcelona, emphasizing a new culture of accountability under Pascual's guidance.
As the team prepares for their EuroLeague opener against Madrid, Pascual reflected on the importance of maintaining concentration and executing their game plan for an entire 40 minutes. Following the match, Dubai will continue their season with a title defense in the ABA League against Vienna and a home game against Barcelona.
Pascual is cautious about setting expectations for the Final Four but remains focused on improving the team's performance one game at a time, aiming to push their limits and see where they stand relative to their competition.