Dubai Basketball Club made a strong impression in their second Turkish training camp friendly, beating Besiktas 83-71. The game's highlight came late, when Mfiundo Kabengele finished an alley-oop from Elie Okobo, capping off a night where Dubai's physical play and teamwork stood out.
This was Dubai's first game this season with their full squad. New arrivals Elie Okobo and Jaron Blossomgame joined regulars like Klemen Prepelic and Dwayne Bacon, while Kabengele returned after his ABA Finals MVP run. According to the club's preseason schedule posted on 3 September 2026, this was Dubai's first-ever meeting with Beşiktaş, played as part of the Antalya/Gloria Cup preseason tournament, not a one-off exhibition, as confirmed by Turkish media.
Dubai Basketball's official season announcement stated the team will open its 2026-27 campaign at home against Real Madrid on 24 September at Coca-Cola Arena.
Dubai Basketball official site
Dubai set the tone early, leading 18-14 after the first quarter with aggressive drives and strong finishes. Blossomgame and Kabengele both had highlight dunks, and Davion Mintz scored an acrobatic and-one layup through contact, showing the team's focus on attacking the paint.
Besiktas tried to answer with outside shooting but struggled, making just 3 of 14 three-point attempts in the first half. Dubai's physical defense sent both teams to the free-throw line often, but Dubai converted 9 of 11, while Besiktas made 9 of 17. That efficiency helped Dubai keep control.
Besiktas tied the game at 29 in the second quarter, but after a timeout from coach Xavi Pascual, Dubai responded with a 15-5 run and led 44-34 at halftime. Dubai outscored Besiktas 18-14 in the paint in the first half and finished with a 34-24 advantage inside.
After the Besiktas friendly, Dubai Basketball's next publicly listed preseason game was against Türk Telekom on 4 September 2026, which ended in a 72-67 defeat for Dubai. This sequence of games highlights the club's active participation in the Antalya/Gloria Cup preparation window, as reported by 365Scores and Turkish sports media.
365Scores
In the third quarter, Okobo and Bacon played alongside Mintz, Filip Petrusev, and Mamadi Diakite, keeping up the defensive pressure and stretching the lead to 57-42. Toko Shengelia's mid-range shots and Petrusev's work inside helped Dubai stay ahead, and they entered the fourth quarter up 66-51.
Besiktas found some rhythm in the final period, but Dubai stayed composed. Bacon added another dunk, and Mintz drove for a key basket late, showing the team's depth.
Kabengele led Dubai with 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting. Bacon and Mintz each scored 11, with Bacon adding 3 assists and Mintz collecting 4 rebounds. Their combined effort kept Besiktas chasing all night.
This first win with the full roster is an early sign of what Dubai's new mix of signings and returning players can do. The team's ability to adjust lineups and keep up their intensity was clear throughout the game. During this same preseason stretch, EuroLeague sources reported on 31 August 2026 that a disciplinary procedure had been opened against Dubai BC over the "Thomas Walkup" case, showing the club is also dealing with off-court issues as the season approaches.
