It doesn't matter where the game is played - Buducnost still doesn't have a solution for Dubai

The third duel between the basketball players of Budućnost Voli and Dubai, on a third different court, had the same epilogue - the team from the Middle East celebrated convincingly for the first step towards the ABA League final (104:90).

In the first game of the semi-finals in Zenica, there was almost no dilemma, as the "blues" played a desperate first half, after which they had a huge 23-point deficit and as many as 59 points conceded (59:36).

Buducnost was a real contender in the first 6-7 minutes, then allowed Dubai to end the first quarter with an 11:0 run and take a 30:19 lead.

The second period was desperate for Andrej Žakelj's team - both offensively and especially defensively.

Dubai was scoring from all positions, with fairly open shots, and the lead only grew, as Buducnost was so confused that it didn't commit a foul for more than six minutes, making it difficult for its rival.

Center Bruno Kaboklo hit three three-pointers almost without resistance, Davis Bertans also had to make a throw-in, so the winner could be in sight after 20 minutes of basketball.

In the third quarter, the Montenegrin champion showed a reaction and on several occasions came close to minus 12 thanks to the shots of Juvan Morgan and Fletcher Magee, so the Podgorica team began to believe that they could and would get back into the game.

However, Dubai closed the third period better and "escaped" to 84:67, and the last time Buducnost was "close" was with eight minutes left after a point by Zoran Nikolić when they reduced the lead to 84:71...

The second game is on Monday at the "M:tel Morača Hall" (19 p.m.).

And it's a battle of will or not will for the current ABA League vice-champion, who wants to return to Zenica next Thursday and try to upset the best team of the regular season.

Morgan was the most efficient player in Buducnost with 19 points, Megi scored 17, Rashid Sulamon 15...

For Dubai, Dzanan Musa had 22, McKinley Wright 18, and Bruno Caboclo had 14, four of which were three-pointers (along with 12 rebounds).