Peñarroya Dejected After ABA Title Loss: "I Feel Bad!"

Pulse Sports Team 22:03 - 12 June 2026

Partizan basketball players were defeated by Dubai 83:81 in the fourth game of the ABA League finals. Following the title loss, head coach Joan Peñarroya addressed the media.

You could follow the game between Partizan and Dubai live on Sportal.

Dubai played with aggressive intensity from start to finish. While the Black and Whites tightened up when it mattered most, they still had a chance to win. Avramović sank two free throws, but Karlik Jones missed a shot that would have forced overtime, ultimately crowning Dubai as ABA League champions for the first time.

Following this thrilling encounter, Joan Peñarroya addressed the media in a press conference.

"Congratulations to Dubai on their ABA title. I believe we tried to win, but it was a 50-50 game. It's incredibly difficult to win games of such importance. We made crucial mistakes, failed to control the defensive rebound, and clearly shot with poor percentages, though they were good looks. We missed open shots. We were probably tired and needed more energy, but we simply didn't have it. It was evident in those situations. The season wasn't easy, neither for us nor for the fans. We transformed as a team throughout the season. In the end, we fought for the title, and the series was competitive, but unfortunately, we suffered a home defeat. We must aim to go a step further next season." - Joan Peñarroya

He expressed pride in the club's stabilization, but acknowledged that the primary goals were not met.

"At this moment, I have a bad feeling. When I arrived, the situation was tough. First, I wanted to change small things, and our goal was the ABA League. We also tried to win the KLS and the Cup, but in those domestic competitions, we had to rely on a different roster. In the ABA League, we competed well, but in a competition like this, it's normal to experience some losses. The important thing was the league part of the season, after which Dubai finished first and had home-court advantage. I'm happy with the effort of the players and fans that we stabilized, but we didn't achieve our main goal, and this is definitely bad for the players and for me." - Joan Peñarroya

He revealed what he believed was the key to their defeat.

"It's clear that in the end, we lost by two points. The game was highly competitive. In the final quarter, our energy on the rebound was poor. That was the key to the defeat. We tried to fight with 100 percent capacity, and I have no complaints about the players; that's just basketball." - Joan Peñarroya