From Yarone Arbel, PA Sport, Tel Aviv

Rishon Lezion, who along with Ironi Iscar Nahariya make up Israel's two representatives in the EuroCup, make a long awaited return to Europe  this season.

It has been almost eight years since Rishon Lezion played in the continental competition.

From 1992 to '98, the club played in a FIBA competition with the exception of 1994.

The last game they played was in 1998, when they lost at home 80-78 to Greek side Apollon.

For the first time in the 21st century, the club that once had European basketball legends Mickey Berkovic, Doron Jamchy, Kevin McGee, Motti Daniel and Motti Aroestion on their books, is back on the European stage.

Rishon coach and former national team player, Guy Goodes, led the club on a magnificent run last season.

The club twice beat the Euroleague runner-up, Maccabi Tel Aviv, on the way to the league's Final Four.

Rishon came one play short of eliminating favourite Hapoel Jerusalem in the semi-finals.

During the summer, Goodes got an expected phone call and moved to Maccabi to become an assistant coach in Tel Aviv.

Gilad Katz, his assistant last season, and a former Maccabi player himself, replaced him at the Rishon helm.

In his first season at a top club as a head coach, Katz will find it very difficult.

He will have to coach against a powerhouse like Akasvayu Girona of Spain in the EuroCup.

If experience can't be found on Rishon's bench, it'll surely be present on the court.

Rishon will be Brian Tolbert's third station in Israel, where he was one of the top scorers in the league in the last two seasons.

Tolbert won the Saporta Cup with Montepaschi Siena in 2002, and his experience will be a key for Rishon's success.

Next to him in the backcourt is 24-year-old Ryan Sidney, a guard who does much of the dirty work and always comes up with his share of steals and rebounds.

The 1.88m defensive specialist is in his second season with the club.

The duo will be backed up by 32-year-old Guy Kantor, who spent most of the last season on the bench at Hapoel Jerusalem, and former Maccabi Tel Aviv reserve Assaf Dotan.

If coach Katz can get these players to show some of their old form, he'll enjoy two decent back-ups.

In addition, point guard Oded Sha'asuah followed Tolbert and moved from Ashkelon to strengthen Rishon's backcourt.

Rishon's biggest signing in the Israeli market was forward Itay Lev.

Coming off a breakthrough season at Ramat Gan, the 2.02m athletic Lev will try to continue his climb and hopefully earn an invite to play for Israel in next summer's additional qualifying tournament for EuroBasket 2007.

Most of the players in the paint have arrived from other countries, including Dustin Villepigue, a player at Gonzaga and UNLV.

He averaged just over six points five rebounds per game in his last season with the Runnin' Rebels.

That, in addition to his Jewish origins, were enough for Maccabi to sign him, and loan him straight to Rishon.

Another big man with NCAA experience is 2.07m Israeli center Khaim Shim, a 27-year-old who spent four seasons with Hawaii.

Shimonovic took a break from basketball last season, but he has enjoyed a good pre-season.

Reggie Moore is a massive 2.03m power forward who was the top scorer in the Portuguese league last season.

He will join forces in the low post with the athletic dunk-specialist James Williams.

Assisting them is veteran forward Petar Arsic (2.07, 34).

The EuroCup will be one of Katz's biggest challenges.

Each of his opponents will have something special for him.

Girona is a title contender, Gravelines a top team in France's Pro A last season and Siauliai a team that hails from a basketball country loaded with talent.

The Israeli league and the EuroCup also have different rules regarding
foreigners, so that is something Katz will have to overcome.

In Israel, he is allowed four foreigners on the roster while EuroCup regulations allow only two per game.

That will force Rishon to rotate.

Katz will try to remain optimistic for a season that will be full of new experiences and obstacles.

Going far and having a good season in the EuroCup will be a nice start, but the main focus will be to renew the tradition.

He will want to make certain Rishon's comeback to international basketball isn't just a flash in the plan.