Virtus Roma 1960, commonly known as Virtus Roma, is an Italian professional basketball club based in Rome, Lazio. The club named Pallacanestro Virtus Roma competed in the first division of Italian basketball, the LBA, for decades until 2020, when it went bankrupt. In 2021 the club was refounded.

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 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.

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, 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.

Banco di Roma before the kick-off of the European Champions Cup match against Limoges CSP in 1983.

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, Renzo Tombolato, and Fulvio Polesello. Wright was decisive in the EuroLeague Final against FC Barcelona, 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, by which time Banco di Roma had been replaced as the club's sponsor by Il Messaggero. A squad comprising Dino Rađa, Rick Mahorn, Roberto Premier, and Andrea Niccolai downed Scavolini Pesaro in the two-legged final. The next year, Virtus managed to reach the FIBA Korać Cup final again, but lost the game against Philips Milano. During the 2002–03 season, Carlton Myers led the team to a 25–9 record in the Serie A (LBA), as Roma reached the playoff's semifinals. After adding Dejan Bodiroga as a player, and head coach Svetislav Pešić, in the 2005 off-season, Virtus reached the ULEB Cup (EuroCup) quarterfinals, the Serie A semifinals, and the Italian Cup final, that it lost in overtime.

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.

Virtus Roma supporters in 2008

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 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. Virtu returns to the highest tier after an absence of four years.

Dissolution

On December 9, 2020, the club withdrew from the Serie A due to financial difficulties and the inability to find a new investor.

Arenas

Fans of Roma at PalaLottomatica, in 2006.

Virtus played at the 3,500 seating capacity Palazzetto dello Sport arena, until 1983. The club then played at the 11,200 seat PalaLottomatica 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, to play at the arena during the Serie A2 2018–19 season.

Honours

Banners of Virtus Roma

Total titles: 6

Domestic competitions

Winners (1): 1982–83

Runners-up (2): 2007–08, 2012–13

Runners-up (2): 1989–90, 2005–06

Winners (1): 2000

European competitions

Winners (1): 1983–84

Winners (2): 1985–86, 1991–92

Runners-up (1): 1992–93

Semifinalists (1): 1997–98

Runners-up (1): 1983

Worldwide competitions

Winners (1): 1984

Other competitions

  • Trofeo Ambrose

Winners (1): 2009

The road to the European victories

RoundTeamHomeAway
1983–84 FIBA European Champions Cup Round Team Home Away 1st Luxembourg T71 Dudelange 85–44 72–40 2nd Albania Partizani Tirana 93–55 78–69 SF France Limoges CSP 81–76 76–74 Spain FC Barcelona 74–71 74–81 Italy Jollycolombani Cantù 85–86 79–71 Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv 82–67 91–85 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Bosna 65–55 77–86 F Spain FC Barcelona 79–731985–86 FIBA Korać Cup Round Team Home Away 2nd Bye Top 16 Israel Hapoel Tel Aviv 93–74 82–92 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Bosna 91–77 96–100 France Challans 107–80 78–77 SF France Olympique Antibes 83–75 78–69 F Italy Mobilgirgi Caserta 73–72 84–781991–92 FIBA Korać Cup Round Team Home Away 1st Belgium Go Pass Verviers-Pepinster 104–90 99–89 2nd France Reims 94–71 72–54 Top 16 Spain CAI Zaragoza 97–72 81–77 Greece Panathinaikos 84–75 99–96 France Pitch Cholet 95–88 69–83 QF France Racing Club de France 80–72 71–70 SF Spain Fórum Filatélico Valladolid 76–70 66–67 F Italy Scavolini Pesaro 94–94 99–86
1stLuxembourg T71 Dudelange85–4472–40
2ndAlbania Partizani Tirana93–5578–69
SFFrance Limoges CSP81–7676–74
Spain FC Barcelona74–7174–81
Italy Jollycolombani Cantù85–8679–71
Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv82–6791–85
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Bosna65–5577–86
FSpain FC Barcelona79–73
RoundTeamHomeAway
2ndBye
Top 16Israel Hapoel Tel Aviv93–7482–92
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Bosna91–7796–100
France Challans107–8078–77
SFFrance Olympique Antibes83–7578–69
FItaly Mobilgirgi Caserta73–7284–78
RoundTeamHomeAway
1stBelgium Go Pass Verviers-Pepinster104–9099–89
2ndFrance Reims94–7172–54
Top 16Spain CAI Zaragoza97–7281–77
Greece Panathinaikos84–7599–96
France Pitch Cholet95–8869–83
QFFrance Racing Club de France80–7271–70
SFSpain Fórum Filatélico Valladolid76–7066–67
FItaly Scavolini Pesaro94–9499–86

Season by season record

The following table shows the records from the season 1977–78 in all competitions:

SeasonTierLeaguePos.PostseasonItalian CupSupercupEuropeWorldwide
1977–783Serie B4Promoted––––––
1978–792Serie A25–––––––
1979–802Serie A23Promoted––––––
1980–811Serie A10–––––––
1981–821Serie A10–––––––
1982–831Serie A1Champions––Korać CupTop 16––
1983–841Serie A9–Quarterfinalist–EuroleagueChampions––
1984–851Serie A1QuarterfinalistQuarterfinalist–EuroleagueTop 6Intercontinental CupChampions
1985–861Serie A10QuarterfinalistQuarterfinalist–Korać CupChampionsIntercontinental Cup8
1986–871Serie A8Top 12Top 32–––––
1987–881Serie A10QuarterfinalistQuarterfinalist–––––
1988–891Serie A12–Top 32–––––
1989–901Serie A8QuarterfinalistFinalist–––––
1990–911Serie A4SemifinalistTop 16–––––
1991–921Serie A6SemifinalistQuarterfinalist–Korać CupChampions––
1992–931Serie A12–Top 16–Korać CupFinalist––
1993–941Serie A15–Top 32–––––
1994–951Serie A8QuarterfinalistQuarterfinalist–––––
1995–961Serie A6QuarterfinalistQuarterfinalist–––––
1996–971Serie A6QuarterfinalistQuarterfinalist–Korać CupQuarterfinalist––
1997–981Serie A8QuarterfinalistQuarterfinalist–Korać CupSemifinalist––
1998–991Serie A6QuarterfinalistQuarterfinalist–Korać CupTop 16––
1999–001Serie A6Top 14Quarterfinalist–Korać CupQuarterfinalist––
2000–011Serie A5QuarterfinalistSemifinalistChampions––––
2001–021Serie A8Quarterfinalist––––––
2002–031Serie A2SemifinalistQuarterfinalist–––––
2003–041Serie A7QuarterfinalistQuarterfinalist–EuroleagueRegular season––
2004–051Serie A6SemifinalistSemifinalist–––––
2005–061Serie A6SemifinalistQuarterfinalist–EurocupQuarterfinalist––
2006–071Serie A4SemifinalistQuarterfinalist–EuroleagueTop 16––
2007–081Serie A2FinalistQuarterfinalist–EuroleagueTop 16––
2008–091Serie A2QuarterfinalistQuarterfinalist–EuroleagueTop 16––
2009–101Serie A7Semifinalist––EuroleagueRegular season––
2010–111Serie A9–––EuroleagueTop 16––
2011–121Serie A13–––––––
2012–131Serie A3FinalistSemifinalist–––––
2013–141Serie A6SemifinalistQuarterfinalist–EurocupRegular season––
2014–151Serie A10Demoted––EurocupTop 16––
2015–162Serie A2––––––––

Notable players

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

Criteria
To appear in this section a player must have either: Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club Played at least one official international match for their national team at any time Played at least one official NBA match at any time.

2010s

2000s

1990s

1980s

1970s

Head coaches

Coach Jasmin Repeša and his players during a timeout during the 2005–06 season.
Maurizio Polidori – 1972–73 Francesco Della Penna – 1973–74 Alessandro Lisotti – 1974–76 Nello Paratore – 1976–81 Giancarlo Asteo – 1981–82 Paolo Di Fonzo – 1982 Valerio Bianchini – 1982–85 Mario De Sisti – 1985–86 Giuseppe Guerrieri – 1986–88 Giancarlo Primo – 1988–89 Petar Skansi – 1989 Valerio Bianchini – 1989–91 Paolo Di Fonzo – 1991–92 Franco Casalini – 1992–94 Nevio Ciaralli – 1994Attilio Caja – 1994–99 Valerio Bianchini – 1999 Marco Calvani – 1999 Cesare Pancotto – 1999–00 Marco Calvani – 2000 Attilio Caja – 2000–02 Piero Bucchi – 2002–05 Svetislav Pešić – 2005–06 Jasmin Repeša – 2006–08 Nando Gentile – 2008–09 Matteo Boniciolli – 2009–11 Sašo Filipovski – 2011 Lino Lardo - 2011-12 Marco Calvani - 2012-13 Luca Dalmonte - 2013–present

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 2020–21)

External links

  • (in Italian) Retrieved 18 July 2015