2005–2006 Israeli Final Four

The 2005–2006 Israeli Final Four [1], the first Israeli Final Four was held at Yad Eliyahu Arena, Tel Aviv, Israel on 6 and 8 June 2006 to determine the winner of the 2005–06 Israeli Basketball Super League. The contestants were Maccabi Tel Aviv, the 2004–2005 Israeli League champion and the 2005–2006 Israeli State Cup winner, Hapoel Jerusalem, the 2005–2006 Israeli State Cup runner-up, Maccabi Rishon Lezion and Ironi Naharia. Maccabi Tel Aviv won their 46th Israeli League crown, beating Hapoel Jerusalem 96-66 in the final.^[1]

Venue

The Yad Eliyahu Arena is an indoor sports arena in Tel Aviv, Israel. Opened in 1963 with its seating capacity varying from 5,000 to 11,700, it had hosted the 1971–1972 FIBA European Champions Cup final, the 1993–1994 FIBA European Championship Final Four and the 2003–2004 Euroleague Final Four.

Bracket

	Semifinals 6 June				Final 8 June
	Maccabi Rishon Lezion	65
	Hapoel Jerusalem	66
					Maccabi Tel Aviv	96
					Hapoel Jerusalem	66
	Maccabi Tel Aviv	85
	Ironi Naharia	72
					Third place
					Maccabi Rishon Lezion	87
					Ironi Naharia	84

Semifinals

All times are in Israel Summer Time.

Semifinal 1

6 June 2006 18:00

Recap

Maccabi Rishon Lezion	65–66	Hapoel Jerusalem
Scoring by quarter: 14–17, 11–15, 19–17, 21–17
Pts: Matthews 14 Rebs: Sidney, Sneed 9 Asts: Sidney 5		Pts: Slay 18 Rebs: Slay 14 Asts: Jenkins, Mason 3

Yad Eliyahu Arena, Tel Aviv Attendance: 10,383

Semifinal 2

6 June 2006 20:55

Recap

Maccabi Tel Aviv	85–72	Ironi Naharia
Scoring by quarter: 19–17, 27–22, 21–20, 18–13
Pts: Baston 18 Rebs: Baston 11 Asts: Vujčić, Parker 7		Pts: Young 16 Rebs: Hill, Wells 6 Asts: Sukar 2

Yad Eliyahu Arena, Tel Aviv Attendance: 10,383

Third-place playoff

8 June 2006 18:00

Recap

Maccabi Rishon Lezion	87–84	Ironi Naharia
Scoring by quarter: 14-21, 25-20, 22-23, 26-20
Pts: John 23 Rebs: Sneed 8 Asts: John 4		Pts: Young 23 Rebs: Wells 11 Asts: Sukar 5

Yad Eliyahu Arena, Tel Aviv Attendance: 10,383

Final

8 June 2006 20:55

Recap

Maccabi Tel Aviv	96–66	Hapoel Jerusalem
Scoring by quarter: 23–16, 22–19, 19–19, 32–12
Pts: Vujčić 20 Rebs: Shason 9 Asts: Parker 8		Pts: Slay 20 Rebs: Austin 7 Asts: Jenkins 4

Yad Eliyahu Arena, Tel Aviv Attendance: 10,383

Awards

• Anthony Parker – Final MVP

References

1. "Final Four - Winner League Final". Israeli Basketball Super League. 8 June 2006.