Pallacanestro Virtus Roma, commonly known as Virtus Roma, was an Italian professional
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...
club based in
Rome
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, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus (legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
, map_caption ...
,
Lazio
it, Laziale
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. It competed in the
first division of Italian basketball, the
LBA, for the last time in the 2020–21 season.
It was formerly a major side in Europe, winning the
1983–84 FIBA European Champions Cup (
EuroLeague), and at one time being one of only 13 clubs to hold a
EuroLeague A license. However, its standing later waned, and Virtus became less competitive in both Europe and the domestic
LBA - which it had won in 1983 – before being voluntarily
relegated
In sports leagues, promotion and relegation is a process where teams are transferred between multiple divisions based on their performance for the completed season. Leagues that use promotion and relegation systems are often called open leagues. ...
to the Italian second division in July 2015.
In December 2020, Virtus was dissolved after the club was declared bankrupt after months of financial struggles.
For past club sponsorship names, see
sponsorship names
Sponsoring something (or someone) is the act of supporting an event, activity, person, or organization financially or through the provision of products or services. The individual or group that provides the support, similar to a benefactor, is k ...
.
History
The club was formed by the merger of two Roman sides, San Saba and Gruppo Borgo Cavalleggeri, under the name Virtus Aurelia in the late 1960s, the founding date of San Saba, 1960, was kept as Virtus'. In 1972, Virtus Aurelia merged with GS Banco di Roma, the sporting wing of
Banco di Roma
Banco di Roma was an Italian bank based in Rome, Lazio region. It was established on 9 March 1880.
Along with Credito Italiano and Banca Commerciale Italiana they were considered as bank of national interests. In 1991 the bank was merged with Ba ...
, forming Pallacanestro Banco di Roma Virtus or simply Banco di Roma. The side reached the
Italian second division in 1978, staying two years before moving up to the Italian top level
LBA, in 1980.
![Pallacanestro Banco di Roma Virtus Limoges 1983](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Pallacanestro_Banco_di_Roma_Virtus_Limoges_1983.jpg)
This was the start of an extended stay in the first division, and success followed soon after, with the side winning the 1983 championship. Earning a place in the
1983–84 FIBA European Champions Cup (
EuroLeague), Virtus went on to win the competition at its first try, with a
Larry Wright led squad, that also had
Clarence Kea
Clarence Leroy Kea (born February 2, 1959) is an American former professional basketball player. He was a 6'6" (1.98 m) 218 lb (99 kg) power forward.
High school
Born in Wilmington, North Carolina, Kea attended New Hanover High School, ...
,
Renzo Tombolato, and
Fulvio Polesello Fulvio is a given name. Notable people with the name include:
* Andrea Fulvio (c. 1470 – 1527), Renaissance humanist, poet and antiquarian of Rome, advisor to Raphael
*Fulvio de Assis (born 1981), Brazilian professional basketball player
*Fulvio ...
. Wright was decisive in the
EuroLeague Final
The EuroLeague Finals are the championship finals of the EuroLeague competition. The EuroLeague is the highest level tier, and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe.
Title holders
* ......1958 Rīgas ASK
* 195 ...
against
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona (), commonly referred to as Barcelona and colloquially known as Barça (), is a professional football club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, that competes in La Liga, the top flight of Spanish football.
Founded ...
, scoring 27 points, as Roma overturned a 10-point halftime deficit to win the decider.
The next season, the Italian club won the
1984 FIBA Intercontinental Cup, after topping a group of international clubs in Brazil. Roma also won the
1985–86 FIBA Korać Cup final against
Mobilgirgi Caserta.
The club's next title was the
1991–92 FIBA Korać Cup
First round
Second round
Round of 16
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Korac Cup
1991–92
1991–92 ...
, by which time Banco di Roma had been replaced as the club's sponsor by
Il Messaggero. A squad comprising
Dino Rađa
Dino Rađa (Anglicized: Dino Radja, ; born April 24, 1967) is a Croatian former professional basketball player. He was a member of the Jugoplastika team of the late 1980s and early 1990s, which he helped to win two FIBA European Champions Cup ...
,
Rick Mahorn
Derrick Allen Mahorn (born September 21, 1958) is an American former professional basketball player who played power forward and center for the Washington Bullets, Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, and the New Jersey Nets of the National Basket ...
,
Roberto Premier, and
Andrea Niccolai downed
Scavolini Pesaro
Victoria Libertas (also known as "VL" or in Italian ''Vuelle''), full name Unione Sportiva Victoria Libertas Pallacanestro, is a professional basketball team that is based in Pesaro, Italy. The club competes in the top level Italian professiona ...
in the two-legged final.
The next year, Virtus managed to reach the
FIBA Korać Cup
The FIBA Korać Cup was an annual basketball club competition held by FIBA between the 1971–72 and 2001–02 seasons. It was the third-tier level club competition in European basketball, after the FIBA European Champions' Cup (later renamed th ...
final again, but lost the game against
Philips Milano. During the 2002–03 season,
Carlton Myers
Carlton Ettore Francesco Myers (born 30 March 1971) is an Italian former professional basketball player that played in the Lega Basket Serie A, Italian league and the EuroLeague. Myers was initially raised in the United Kingdom. One of the best ...
led the team to a 25–9 record in the Serie A (
LBA), as Roma reached the playoff's semifinals.
After adding
Dejan Bodiroga
Dejan Bodiroga ( sr-Cyrl, Дејан Бодирога; born 2 March 1973) is a Serbian basketball executive and former professional player who is the Chairman of the Euroleague Basketball.
During his playing career, he mainly played at the smal ...
as a player, and head coach
Svetislav Pešić
Svetislav "Kari" Pešić ( sr-cyrl, Светислав "Кари" Пешић; born August 28, 1949) is a Serbian professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the Serbia men's national team.
Playing career
During his c ...
, in the 2005 off-season, Virtus reached the
ULEB Cup (
EuroCup) quarterfinals, the Serie A semifinals, and the
Italian Cup
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
final, that it lost in
overtime
Overtime is the amount of time someone works beyond normal working hours. The term is also used for the pay received for this time. Normal hours may be determined in several ways:
*by custom (what is considered healthy or reasonable by society), ...
.
In the summer of 2011, the Italian club's
EuroLeague A-license was suspended, after it finished in the bottom half of the Serie A. The next year, it lost the license completely, after having the worst record among A license clubs. It lost its license to
EA7 Emporio Armani Milano.
![Pallacanestro Virtus Roma supporters](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/Pallacanestro_Virtus_Roma_supporters.jpg)
In a strange twist, Virtus Roma then went on to have an excellent season, unexpectedly, by their own admission, reaching the Serie A finals, which would earn it the right to return to the EuroLeague. However, the club relinquished their rights, as they did not agree to some of the competition's requirements. In particular, paying rent for an arena with the minimum arena capacity. They thus earned a place in the second tier
EuroCup instead.
In July 2015, despite having satisfied the economic conditions to participate in the Italian top level LBA, the club's management asked to participate instead in the Italian second division
Serie A2. The permission to do so was granted by the
Italian Basketball Federation
The Italian Basketball Federation ( it, Federazione Italiana Pallacanestro; FIP) is the governing body of basketball in Italy. It is based in Rome.
It organises national competitions in Italy and the Italian basketball leagues, which operate th ...
. The cited motive for the move to the lower division, was an insufficient budget to be competitive at the higher level, and the desire to restructure the club based on a youth policy.
On April 23, 2019, after beating
Legnano Knights by 83–88, Virtus Roma is proclaimed champion of the
Serie A2, getting the direct promotion to the
Serie A
The Serie A (), also called Serie A TIM for national sponsorship with TIM, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and the winner is awarded the Scudetto and the Coppa ...
. Virtu returns to the highest tier after an absence of four years.
Dissolution
On December 9, 2020, the club withdrew from the
Serie A
The Serie A (), also called Serie A TIM for national sponsorship with TIM, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and the winner is awarded the Scudetto and the Coppa ...
due to financial difficulties and the inability to find a new investor.
Arenas
![PalaLottomatica](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/PalaLottomatica.jpg)
*
Palazzetto dello Sport
The Palazzetto dello Sport (literally "Small Sport Palace"), also less commonly known as the PalaTiziano[PalaLottomatica
PalaLottomatica, formerly known as Palazzo dello Sport or PalaEUR, is a multi-purpose sports and entertainment arena in Rome, Italy. It is located in the heart of the well known modern EUR complex. The arena hosted the 1960 Olympic basketball t ...](_blank)
: (seating capacity: 11,200): (1983–1999, 2003–2011, 2018–2020)
Virtus played at the 3,500 seating capacity
Palazzetto dello Sport
The Palazzetto dello Sport (literally "Small Sport Palace"), also less commonly known as the PalaTiziano[PalaLottomatica
PalaLottomatica, formerly known as Palazzo dello Sport or PalaEUR, is a multi-purpose sports and entertainment arena in Rome, Italy. It is located in the heart of the well known modern EUR complex. The arena hosted the 1960 Olympic basketball t ...](_blank)
arena, from 1983 to 2011, except between 2000 and 2003, when the arena was undergoing extensive renovation work.
After the club down scaled its operations costs, due to reduced funds, Virtus found the operating costs of the PalaLottomatica to be prohibitive, and decided to avoid playing in the larger arena. So from 2011 to 2018, it returned to the Palazzetto dello Sport, even playing games there during the
2013 Italian LBA Finals.
On June 9, 2018, Virtus Roma reached a new deal with All Events SpA, the operator of
PalaLottomatica
PalaLottomatica, formerly known as Palazzo dello Sport or PalaEUR, is a multi-purpose sports and entertainment arena in Rome, Italy. It is located in the heart of the well known modern EUR complex. The arena hosted the 1960 Olympic basketball t ...
, to play at the arena during the
Serie A2 2018–19 season.
2020–21 roster
This was the last roster that Roma had in the
2020–21 LBA season before the official withdrawal from the championship.
The team would line up as in the shown below. Roma adopted a
6+6 format where a maximum of 6 foreign players along with 6 Italian or Italian grown players could be called for each game.
Honours
![Pallacanestro Virtus Roma Banners](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/Pallacanestro_Virtus_Roma_Banners.jpg)
Total titles: 6
Domestic competitions
*
Italian League
The Italic League or Most Holy League was an international agreement concluded in Venice on 30 August 1454, between the Papal States, the Republic of Venice, the Duchy of Milan, the Republic of Florence, and the Kingdom of Naples, following the Tr ...
: Winners (1): 1982–83
: Runners-up (2):
2007–08,
2012–13
*
Italian Cup
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
: Runners-up (2): 1989–90, 2005–06
*
Italian Supercup
The Supercoppa Italiana ( en, Italian Super Cup) is an annual football match contested by the winners of the Serie A and the Coppa Italia in the previous season. If the same team wins both the Serie A and Coppa Italia titles in the previous seaso ...
: Winners (1): 2000
European competitions
*
EuroLeague
: Winners (1):
1983–84
*
FIBA Korać Cup
The FIBA Korać Cup was an annual basketball club competition held by FIBA between the 1971–72 and 2001–02 seasons. It was the third-tier level club competition in European basketball, after the FIBA European Champions' Cup (later renamed th ...
(defunct)
: Winners (2):
1985–86,
1991–92
: Runners-up (1):
1992–93
: Semifinalists (1):
1997–98
*
European Club Super Cup (semi-official, defunct)
: Runners-up (1):
1983
The year 1983 saw both the official beginning of the Internet and the first mobile cellular telephone call.
Events January
* January 1 – The migration of the ARPANET to Internet protocol suite, TCP/IP is officially completed (this is consid ...
Worldwide competitions
*
FIBA Intercontinental Cup
The FIBA Intercontinental Cup, also commonly referred to as the FIBA World Cup for Champion Clubs, or the FIBA Club World Cup, is a professional basketball clubs competition that is endorsed by FIBA and the NBA. Historically, its purpose has be ...
: Winners (1):
1984
Events
January
* January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888.
* January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeast A ...
Other competitions
* Trofeo Ambrose
: Winners (1): 2009
The road to the European victories
1983–84 FIBA European Champions Cup
1985–86 FIBA Korać Cup
1991–92 FIBA Korać Cup
Season by season record
The following table shows the records from the season 1977–78 in all competitions:
Notable players
2010s
2000s
1990s
1980s
1970s
Head coaches
Sponsorship names
Throughout the years, due to sponsorship, the club has been known as:
*Virtus Aurelia
(no sponsorship, 1960–61 until 1971–72)
*Banco di Roma
(1972–73 until 1987–88)
*Phonola Roma
(1988–89)
*Il Messaggero Roma
(1989–90 until 1991–92)
*Virtus Roma
(no sponsorship, 1992–93)
*Burghy Roma
(1993–94)
*Teorematour Roma
(1994–95)
*Nuova Tirrena Roma
(1995–96)
*Telemarket Roma
(1996–97)
*Calze Pompea Roma
(1997–98 until 1998–99)
*Aeroporti di Roma Virtus
(1999–00 until 2000–01)
*Würth Roma
(2001–02)
*Lottomatica Roma
(2002–03 until 2010–11)
*Acea Roma
(2011–12 until 2015–16)
*UniCusano Roma
(2016–17 until 2017–18)
*Virtus Roma
(no sponsorship, 2018–19 to present)
References
External links
Serie A Historical Results Retrieved 18 July 2015
Eurobasket.com Team Profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Virtus Roma
1960 establishments in Italy
Basketball teams established in 1960
Basketball in Rome
Basketball teams in Lazio
EuroLeague-winning clubs
Sports clubs in Rome
Basketball teams disestablished in 2020