If not for the accumulated fatigue, it would have been a one sided final. Eventually Maccabi won by only five points and recorded its 36th National Cup win and the 9th in a row. Seventy two hours after the enormous effort in Bologna and without the injured Tal Burstein as well as Jamie Arnold & Kirk Penney, it was clear that the reduced squad will find it difficult to keep in the hectic pace Jerusalem will try to dictate. Jerusalem last lead was 20-17 with a minute to go in the first quarter. A three pointer by Derrick Sharp, the first of six, sent Maccabi to the first breat at 23-20. Give three pointers by Sharon Shason (2), Sharop (2) and Parker put Maccabi 42-27 up and later 47-29. At half time Maccabi lead 54-40. The biggest margin (23 pts), was reached four minutes before the end of the third period 76-53. First sign of fatigue and Jeruslem ran 9-0 but at the of the period it was still 81-64. Jerusalem won the final period 27-15 but did not prevent Maccabi winning 96-91 for their first trophy of the season. Maccabi were 60% in three pointers (12-20) with Sharp on 6-12. An improvement in rebounding but still Jerusalem pulled down 11 offensive rebounds. Maccabi players had 16 assists but also 15 turnovers. Derrick Sharp collected two trophies: The MVP and the Cup as captain of the team. But the most influential player was ex Jerusalem player Will Solomon with an index rating of 32. Maccabi scorers: Solomon 26, Baston 19, Sharp 18, Parker 17, Shason 8, Vujcic 7, Green 1 point. For Jerusalem: Jenkins 25, Austin 24, Mason 15, Slay 13, Kozikaro 7, Naor 3, Markowitz 2, Tapiro 2pts. .