The Super League Champions Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv had to work hard in Or Yehuda before beating Givat Shmuel BC 110-103 in the opening game of the 2005/06 season.
The hosts exploited the Maccabi players fatigue after returning to Tel Aviv on Friday from theie North American Tour. Maccabi also missed Kirk Penney & Jamie Arnold because of Super League regulations allowing only four foreign players in each team.
Maccabi led 32-27 at the end of the first quarter and 57-56 at half time. The hosts took a 64-60 lead but then came Maccabi best spell. They won the third period 28-19 and opened a 10 point lead 85-75. Givat Shmuel closed the margin to 106-101 but Maccabi held on to win.
Maccabi made 65% FG and 94% FT (29-31). They pulled down 33 rebounds to 24 by Givat Shmuel who made 61% in three pointers (11-18) whilst Maccabi had 3-6.
Maccabi: Vujcic 23 pts, 7 rbds, Solomon 22 pts' 4 rbds' 4 assts, Baston 19 pts, Parker 19 pts, Burstein 17 pts, 5 rbds, Green 6 pts, 6 rbds, Sharp 4 pts.
Top scorers for Givat Shmuel: Bowers 22 & 5 assts, Brener 19 pts(5-7 in 3pts), Walace & Aharoni 15 pts each.
