Defeat at Caja Laboral on the opening gameweek seemed to back-up the 21.00 odds on Maccabi Electra to win the Euroleague title, but they were an unstoppable force for the remainder of the Regular Season. David Blatt’s team won their next nine games to rule Group A in emphatic style.
The team from Tel-Aviv were being taken seriously by this stage, their odds halving to 10.00, but they were drawn in a tough Top 16 group as Regal Barcelona and Union Olimpija had already impressed in the Regular Season. Losing both games to favourites Regal FC Barcelona was counterbalanced by a pair of victories over the Slovenians, edging Electra through with a 3-3 record.
Caja Laboral had home court advantage yet it was Maccabi Electra who were odds on to qualify from this Playoff series, starting out at 1.666. Despite defying the bookmakers in the series opener, the Spaniards were edged out by a Jeremy Pargo jumper in the final shot of Game 2. That proved the spark for the Israelis as they eased through with comfortable back-to-back home wins.
Priced at 2.90 to add to their long list of trophies in Barcelona, Maccabi Electra are the second most successful basketball club on the continent over the last decade. They are expected to be in the final come Sunday, but having started the season at long odds, can the team from Tel Aviv be trusted to deliver?
Star man: Jeremy Pargo
Sportingbet Outright Winner Odds: 2.90