Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna

Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna
Leagues Serie A
Founded 1871
History 1871–present
Arena Unipol Arena
Arena Capacity 11,000
Location Bologna, Italy
Team colors Black and White
         
President Alberto Bucci
Head coach Giorgio Valli
Championships 15 Italian Championships
8 Italian Cups
2 Euroleagues
1 Saporta Cup
1 EuroChallenge
1 Italian Supercup
Retired numbers 3 (4, 5, 10)
Website virtus.it
Uniforms
Home
Away

Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna, known for sponsorship reasons as Obiettivo Lavoro Bologna,[1] is an Italian professional basketball club based in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna. It plays in the first division Serie A as of the 2015-16 season.

For past club sponsorship names, see the list below.

History

Virtus was founded in 1871 as a gymnastics club, forming its first professional basketball team in 1929. It won its first national Serie A title in 1945, adding the next three editions as well. They would add two back to back titles in 1955 and 1956. A 20-year national title drought ended with another championship in 1976, the first of four up to 1984, completing a domestic double the latter year by adding a Cup.[2]

In 1990 they achieved a different double with the domestic cup completemented by the European Cup Winner's Cup, their first European title, beating Real Madrid in the final thanks to an outstanding Micheal Ray Richardson. After nearly a decade, Virtus added the 1993 Serie A, also winning the next two. Led by players such as Predrag Danilović, Zoran Savić and Antoine Rigaudeau the Italians won the 1997–98 FIBA Euroleague, Europe's premier competition, with another domestic title as a bonus.[2]

In 2001 the side went one better, winning the 2000–01 Euroleague (played in competition with a new Euroleague), the Serie A and the Italian Cup to complete a Triple Crown. At the time Virtus had one of the best rosters ever in European basketball with Marko Jarić, Manu Ginóbili, Rigaudeau, Matjaž Smodiš and Rashard Griffith.[2]

Virtus Bologna (2011-12 season)

They would win the Italian cup again in 2002, but lost in the Euroleague final and the Serie A semifinals. Suffering from serious financial problems Virtus was excluded from the Serie A in Auguste 2003 after missing payments to players.[2][3][4] The club even had to merge with FuturVirtus Castelmaggiore in the second division to avoid disappearing.

Virtus returned to the top division in 2004. In 2006-07 they qualified for the playoffs after a five-year absence, reaching the championship finals but losing to Montepaschi Siena. They also reached the EuroCup semifinals.[2]

In 2009 they added another trophy to their cabinet, with the European third tier EuroChallenge, with 21 points from Finals MVP Keith Langford in the final against Cholet Basket.[5]

On 4 May 2016 Virtus was relegated to Serie A2 Basket for the first time in its history after finishing in the last position of the 2015–16 Lega Basket Serie A.[6]

Arena

Virtus' home arena is the Unipol Arena (previously known as the PalaMalaguti).

Honours

Total titles: 28

Domestic competitions

Italian League

Italian Cup

Italian Supercup

European competitions

FIBA European Champions Cup / Euroleague

FIBA European Cup Winner's Cup / FIBA Saporta Cup

FIBA EuroChallenge

Worldwide competitions

McDonald's Championship

Unofficial

Triple Crown

Top performances in European & Worldwide competitions

Season Achievement Notes
Euroleague
1979-80 Semi-final group stage 4th place in a group with Maccabi Elite, Real Madrid, Bosna, Nashua Den Bosch and Partizan
1980-81 Final lost to Maccabi Elite 79-80 in the final (Strasbourg)
1984-85 Semi-final group stage 6th place in a group with Cibona, Real Madrid, Maccabi Elite, CSKA Moscow and Banco di Roma Virtus
1991-92 Quarter-finals eliminated 2-1 by Partizan, 65-78 (L) in Belgrade, 61-60 (W) and 65-69 (L) in Bologna
1992-93 Quarter-finals eliminated 2-0 by Real Madrid, 56-76 (L) in Bologna and 58-79 (L) in Madrid
1993-94 Quarter-finals eliminated 2-1 by Olympiacos, 77-64 (W) in Bologna, 69-89 (L) and 62-65 (L) in Piraeus
1994-95 Quarter-finals eliminated 2-1 by Panathinaikos, 85-68 (W) in Bologna, 55-63 (L) and 56-99 (L) in Athens
1997-98 Champions defeated Partizan 83-61 in the semi-final, defeated AEK 58-44 in the final of the Final Four in Barcelona
1998-99 Final defeated Teamsystem Bologna 62-57 in the semi-final, lost to Žalgiris 74-82 in the final (Munich)
2000-01 Champions defeated 3-2 Tau Cerámica, 65-78 (L) and 94-73 (W) in Bologna, 80-60 (W) and 79-96 (L) in Vitoria-Gasteiz, finally 82-74 (W) in Bologna
2001-02 Final defeated Benetton Treviso 90-82 in the semi-final, lost to Panathinaikos 83-89 in the final (Bologna)
Saporta Cup
1974-75 Quarter-finals 3rd place in a group with Spartak Leningrad, Jugoplastika Split and Moderne
1977-78 Final lost to Gabetti Cantù 82-84 in the final (Milan)
1978-79 Semi-finals eliminated by Den Bosch, 85-73 (W) in Bologna and 92-105 (L) in Den Bosch after two overtimes
1981-82 Semi-finals eliminated by Real Madrid, 78-79 (L) in Bologna and 94-107 (L) in Madrid
1989-90 Champions defeated Real Madrid 79-74 in the final of European Cup Winner's Cup in Florence
1990-91 Quarter-finals 3rd place in a group with Dynamo Moscow, Pitch Cholet and Ovarense
1999-00 Final lost to AEK 76-83 in the final (Lausanne)
Korać Cup
1975-76 Semi-finals eliminated by Jugoplastika Split, 83-74 (W) in Split and 79-92 (L) in Bologna
EuroChallenge
2006-07 Final Four 3rd place in Girona, lost to Azovmash 73-74 in the semi-final, defeated MMT Estudiantes 80-62 in the 3rd place game
2008-09 Champions defeated Proteas EKA AEL 83-69 in the semi-final, defeated Cholet 77-75 in the final of the Eurochallenge Final Four in Bologna
McDonald's Championship
1993 Final defeated Limoges 101-85 in the semi-final, lost to Phoenix Suns 90-112 in the final (Munich)
1995 Final defeated Real Madrid 102-96 in the semi-final, lost to Houston Rockets 112-126 in the final (London)

The road to the European Cup victories

1989–90 FIBA European Cup Winner's Cup

Round Team Home   Away  
2nd round Turkey Çukurova Üniversitesi 108–64 71–72
Quarter-finals Soviet Union Žalgiris 102–79 86–83
Belgium Sunair Oostende 93–85 78–69
Israel Maccabi Ramat Gan 86–73 95–96
Semi-finals Greece PAOK 77–57 94–100
Final Spain Real Madrid 79–74

1997–98 FIBA Euroleague

Round Team Home   Away  
1st round Israel Hapoel Jerusalem 73–51 81–68
France Pau-Orthez 72–79 67–65
Spain FC Barcelona 83–70 84–71
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Partizan 77–72 74–49
Turkey Ülker 94–64 68–66
2nd round France Racing Paris 69–52 72–62
Slovenia Union Olimpija 72–62 60–76
Germany Alba Berlin 81–66 69–85
Top 16 Spain Estudiantes 86–62 67–62
Quarter-finals Italy Teamsystem Bologna 64–52 58–56
Semi-final Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Partizan 83–61
Final Greece AEK 58–44

2000–01 Euroleague

Round Team Home   Away  
Regular season Greece AEK 81–66 77–78
Croatia Cibona 106–88 78–69
Spain Tau Cerámica 76–73 65–59
Belgium Spirou Charleroi 106–87 80–58
Russia Saint Petersburg Lions 84–78 82–78
Top 16 Spain Adecco Estudiantes 113–70 85–80
Quarter-finals Slovenia Union Olimpija 80–79 81–79
Semi-finals Italy Paf Bologna 103–76 92–84
74–70
Finals Spain Tau Cerámica 65–78 94–73
80–60 79–96
82–74

Players

Current roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age
C 1 United States Pittman, Dexter 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 129 kg (284 lb) 28 – (1988-03-02)2 March 1988
F/C 2 Italy Fabiani, Simone 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 23 – (1992-06-19)19 June 1992
SG 3 Italy Vitali, Michele 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 24 – (1991-10-31)31 October 1991
F 7 Italy Vercellino, Roberto 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 19 – (1997-04-16)16 April 1997
C 8 Italy Cuccarolo, Gino 2.21 m (7 ft 3 in) 94 kg (207 lb) 28 – (1987-11-26)26 November 1987
PG 9 United States Gaddy, Abdul 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 97 kg (214 lb) 24 – (1992-01-26)26 January 1992
G 11 United States Williams, Pendarvis 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 24 – (1991-11-13)13 November 1991
SF 13 Italy Fontecchio, Simone 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 93 kg (205 lb) 20 – (1995-12-09)9 December 1995
F/C 14 Italy Mazzola, Valerio 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 96 kg (212 lb) 28 – (1988-03-07)7 March 1988
G 15 Italy Oxilia, Tommaso 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 18 – (1998-04-22)22 April 1998
PF 24 United States Odom, Rod 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 98 kg (216 lb) 24 – (1991-09-23)23 September 1991
G 25 United States Ray, Allan 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 31 – (1984-06-17)17 June 1984
Head coach
  • Italy Giorgio Valli
Assistant coach(es)
  • Italy Daniele Cavicchi
  • Italy Christian Fedrigo
  • Italy Mattia Largo

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured

Roster
Updated: February 28, 2015

Notable players

Retired numbers

Other notable players

2010's

2000's

1990's

1980's

1970's

Coaches

  • Italy Renzo Poluzzi - 2 seasons: 1948-1950
  • Italy Dino Fontana - 1 season: '50-'51
  • Italy Venzo Vannini - 1 season: '51-'52
  • Italy Larry Strong - 1 season: '52-'53
  • Italy Giancarlo Marinelli - 1 season: '53-'54
  • Italy Larry Strong - 1 season: '54-'55
  • Italy Vittorio Tracuzzi - 5 seasons: '55-'60
  • Spain Eduard Kucharski - 3 seasons: '60-'63
  • Italy Mario Alesini - 3 seasons: '63-'66
  • Czechoslovakia Jaroslav Sip - 1 1/2 seasons: '66-'68
  • Italy Renzo Ranuzzi - 1/2 season: '68-'69
  • Italy Nello Paratore - 1 season: '69-'70
  • Italy Vittorio Tracuzzi - 1 1/2 seasons: '70-'71
  • Italy Nico Messina - 1 1/2 seasons: '71-'73
  • United States Dan Peterson - 5 seasons: '73-'78
  • United States Terry Driscoll - 2 seasons: '78-'80
  • Italy Ettore Zuccheri - 1/2 season: '80-'81
  • Italy Renzo Ranuzzi - 1/2 season: '81
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Aleksandar Nikolić - 1 season: '81-'82
  • United States George Bisacca - 1/2 season: '82
  • Italy Mauro Di Vincenzo - 1/2 season: '82-'83
  • Italy Alberto Bucci - 2 seasons: '83-'85
  • Italy Alessandro Gamba - 2 seasons: '85-'87
  • Croatia Krešimir Ćosić - 1 season: '87-'88
  • United States Bob Hill - 1 season: '88-'89
  • Italy Ettore Messina - 4 seasons: '89-'93
  • Italy Alberto Bucci - 3 1/2 seasons: '93-'97
  • Italy Lino Frattin - 1/2 season: '97
  • Italy Ettore Messina - 5 seasons: '97-'2002
    Italy Giordano Consolini - 2 games: '01-'02
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina Bogdan Tanjević - 1/2 season: '02
  • Italy Valerio Bianchini - 1/2 season: '02-'03
  • Italy Giampiero Ticchi - 1/2 season: '03
  • Italy Alberto Bucci - 1 season: '03-'04
  • Italy Giordano Consolini - 1 season: '04-'05
  • Republic of Macedonia Zare Markovski - 2 seasons: '05-'07
  • Italy Stefano Pillastrini - 1/2 season: '07
  • Italy Renato Pasquali - 1/2 season: '08
  • Italy Matteo Boniciolli - 1 season: '08-'09
  • Italy Lino Lardo - 2 seasons: '09-'11
  • Italy Alessandro Finelli - 2 seasons: '11-'13
  • Italy Luca Bechi - 1 season: '13-'14
  • Italy Giorgio Valli - 1 season: '14-present

Sponsorship names

Throughout the years, due to sponsorship, the club has been known as :

  • Minganti Bologna (1953–58)
  • Oransoda Bologna (1958–60)
  • Idrolitina Bologna (1960–61)
  • Virtus Bologna (1961–62)
  • Knorr Bologna (1962–65)
  • Candy Bologna (1965–69)
  • Virtus Bologna (1969–70)
  • Norda Bologna (1970–74)
  • Sinudyne Bologna (1974–83)
  • Granarolo Bologna (1983–86)
  • Dietor Bologna (1986–88)
  • Knorr Bologna (1988–93)
  • Buckler Bologna (1993–96)
  • Kinder Bologna (1996-02)
  • Virtus Bologna (2002–03)
  • Carisbo Bologna (2003–04)
  • Caffè Maxim Bologna (2004–05)
  • VidiVici Bologna (2005–07)
  • La Fortezza Bologna [Domestically] (2007–09)
  • VidiVici Bologna [European competition] (2007–08)
  • Virtus BolognaFiere [European competition]) (2008–09)
  • Canadian Solar Bologna (2009–12)
  • SAIE3 Bologna (2012-2013)
  • Oknoplast Bologna (2013)
  • Granarolo Bologna (2013-2015)
  • Obiettivo Lavoro Bologna (2015–present)

References

  1. "Obiettivo Lavoro e Virtus: facciamo squadra insieme" [Obiettivo Lavora and Virtus: we form a team together]. Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna (in Italian). 18 June 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Virtus VidiVici - Club profile". Euroleague. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  3. "Virtus Bologna is no more."La Gazzetta dello Sport, Roma, 4 August 2003. Retrieved on 3 June 2015.(Italian)
  4. "Virtus is out, Messina retaken.", Messaggero Veneto – Giornale del Friuli via Lega Basket, 1 September 2003. Retrieved on 3 June 2015.(Italian)
  5. "Virtus BolognaFiere beat brave Cholet". FIBA Europe. 26 April 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  6. "Virtus Bologna relegated for the first time". Eurohoops. 4 May 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2016.

External links

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