Sekulić Humbly Dedicates Title to One Dubai Player: "Unfortunately, He Couldn't Play..."

It's difficult for me to analyze the game; you must understand I'm emotional. In short, if I can summarize, I believe we did many things diametrically better than in the third game. Starting with energy, focus, turnovers, and defensive communication. We did everything much better, which was a prerequisite for us to be in the game until the end. We had some good and bad moments, but what ultimately decided it was the players' hearts; they were selfless, sacrificing for each other. Many beautiful and good things happened. Partizan has a good team. I said they were in good competitive rhythm. They beat everyone in the EuroLeague and easily reached the ABA League final. This was a huge challenge for us, and I must congratulate the guys. What I would highlight most is the work of the coaching staff, who helped me and the players prepare for each game as we did, and the medical staff who worked tirelessly with injured players to get them back into competitive rhythm. I dedicate this victory to a player who contributed greatly to the entire team throughout the season but unfortunately couldn't play, and that's Dwayne Bacon. Once again, I congratulate the players who played this series; beating Partizan in their arena and lifting the trophy is no small feat. I am very proud of all of them. - Aleksandar Sekulić

This is a young club that is still growing, yet it's already at an enviable level. The people who have been here from the beginning deserve this title, and it's Dubai's first historic title after two years in the ABA League, achieved against an excellent team in the final. I believe this experience means a lot to the club and the owner, as it's the first title. - Aleksandar Sekulić

Look, I spoke with Aleks after the third game and told him I made a mistake because he should have played more in that game. It started the way it did, and I told him I was wrong; I made that clear to him. I told him he has the full trust of his teammates and the quality to perform in such a game. - Aleksandar Sekulić

I wouldn't want to highlight myself in this story. We did a great job, but the players who showed immense dedication and desire deserve praise. - Aleksandar Sekulić

Congratulations to Dubai on the ABA title. I think we tried to win, but it was a 50-50 game. It's very difficult to win games of such importance. We made mistakes at crucial moments, we didn't control the defensive rebound, and it's clear we shot with poor percentages, but those were good shots. We missed open shots. We were probably tired and needed more energy, but we didn't have it. It was evident in those situations. The season wasn't easy, neither for us nor for the fans. We changed our team's appearance during the season. In the end, we fought for the title, the series was competitive, but unfortunately, we suffered a defeat at home. We need to take another step forward next season. - Joan Peñarroya

At this moment, I have a bad feeling. When I arrived, the situation was difficult. 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 lineup. In the ABA League, we competed well, but in such a competition, it's normal to experience some defeats. The league part of the season was important, after which Dubai was first and had home-court advantage. I'm happy for 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

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