RheinStars Köln is a professional basketball club based in Cologne , Germany . The team currently plays in the ProB , the third tier basketball league in Germany. The club has won one Basketball Bundesliga championship and three German Cup titles in its history.
85-534: The team was founded 1999, as Cologne 99ers. In the Euroleague 2006-07 season , their home arena was an arena in Düsseldorf , Germany , named Philips Halle . RheinEnergie power company supported the team until the summer of 2007, thus the team changed to its original name, Köln 99ers . On January 21, 2008, the club announced that they were insolvent . In 2013, the club was re-launched and started in
170-401: A 'closed league' and ignoring the principle of meritocracy . In July 2019, EuroLeague announced that from the 2019–20 season there will be no direct access to the league through domestic leagues anymore. On 26 July 2010, Turkish Airlines and Euroleague Basketball announced a €15 million strategic agreement to sponsor the top European basketball competition across the globe. According to
255-648: A Croatian guard-forward, and Orlando Woolridge , a long-time NBA player; while young Italian players like Alessandro Abbio became increasingly important. In September 1995, Virtus won its first Italian Supercup against Benetton Treviso; while in October, the Black V participated in the McDonald's Championship , arriving second after the Houston Rockets . The team ended the regular season in first place, but he
340-510: A brief period of outdoor matches on a field in Via del Ravone, the team moved to Sala Borsa , the city's stock exchange , readjusted in the evening for basketball matches. This unusual venue became the hallmark of a new Italian basketball season, compared to the worldwide famous Boston Garden . In July 1945, Virtus, led by Achille Canna , Luigi Rapini and Antonio Calebotta , won its first national Serie A title, defeating 35–31 Reyer Venezia in
425-587: A few days before the final, McMillian suffered a serious injury against Brindisi and was forced not to play in the final, which then Virtus lost by only one point against Maccabi Tel Aviv , after a very contested game and dubious referees ' choices. After the defeat in the Cup, Porelli sacked Ranuzzi and hired coach Aleksandar Nikolić , worldwide known as "The Professor". The team was composed also by young and talented Italian players like Roberto Brunamonti and Augusto Binelli , as well as important foreign players, like
510-464: A five-game playoff series against a single opponent. The regular season standings are used to determine which teams play each other, and in each pairing the higher placed team has home-court advantage in the series, playing three of the five games at home. The winners of each of the four playoff series advance to the Final Four , held at a predetermined site. The Final Four features two semi-finals,
595-539: A former NBA player for the Indiana Pacers , Brett Blizzard , Guilherme Giovannoni , Vlado Ilievski and Tyrone Grant . The team reached the Italian Cup final, losing against Benetton Treviso and placed second in the regular season, qualifying for the playoffs after a five-year absence. Markovski's team reached the championship finals, but it was defeated 3–0 by Montepaschi Siena . The Black V also reached
680-423: A former player. However, Ranuzzi lasted one year only, due to the poor result of the team, which ended the season at the 10th place. After another poor result in the 1969–70 season under coach Nello Paratore, in 1970, Porelli hired Black V's legendary coach Vittorio Tracuzzi and sold the best player of the time, Gianfranco Lombardi, unleashing a popular uprising that even ended up in court. Despite Tracuzzi's comeback,
765-535: A high level. After a tough beginning, the season had a turning point during the Christmas derby against Fortitudo, which was soundly won by the Black V by 99–62. From then, Virtus started an outstanding season, characterized by an unrepeatable group capable of beating every record and becoming one of the strongest European teams of all time and, according to many, the strongest ever. On 28 April 2001, Virtus won its seventh Italian Cup against Pesaro, while on 10 May,
850-481: A partnership with Sinudyne, a famous Italian domestic appliances company, and especially with the engagement of the young American coach Dan Peterson , coming from the Chile's national basketball team . Virtus immediately won its first Italian Cup in 1973–74 season, which was club's first title since 1955–56. In the following season, Virtus signed Tom McMillen , a 22-years-old player from Maryland University , who
935-534: A player must have either: Euroleague The EuroLeague , officially the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague , is a European men's professional basketball club competition. The league is widely recognised as the top-tier men's league in Europe. The league consists of 18 teams, of which 16 are given long-term licences and wild cards, making the league a semi-closed league . The league
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#17328025102481020-516: A product brand line of Italian confectionery multinational Ferrero SpA , became the new sponsor of Virtus. On 8 March 1997, coach Bucci was replaced by Lino Frattin, who after a few days, won Black V's fifth Italian Cup against Cantù. The team was eliminated by Stefanel Milano in the Top 16 of the FIBA EuroLeague , the former Champions Cup. In the national playoffs, Virtus was eliminated in
1105-639: A soundly defeat in Fabriano , Tanjević was replaced by Valerio Bianchini , who failed in reaching the playoffs for the first time in Virtus history but succeeded in saving the team from relegation. However, suffering from serious financial problems, mainly caused by the failure of Madrigali's video game company CTO SpA, Virtus was excluded from the Serie A in August 2003, after missing payments to players, first of all
1190-567: A third place game, and the championship game , all on the same weekend. Each team plays a maximum 41 games per season: 34 in the regular season, a maximum of 5 during the playoffs, and 2 in the Final Four. Currently (and since the suspension of Russian teams because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine ), 12 out of the 18 EuroLeague places are held by licensed clubs that have long-term licenses with Euroleague Basketball , and are members of
1275-492: A true league format, with 16 teams playing each other team in the regular season followed by the playoffs. The A-licensed clubs were assured of participation for the following ten years in the new format. After the new format of the EuroLeague and FIBA implementing national team windows, a conflict between the two organizations emerged. EuroLeague has been criticised by FIBA as well as several national federations for creating
1360-756: Is an Italian professional basketball club based in Bologna , Emilia-Romagna. The club was founded in 1929, which makes it the oldest club in Italy and one of the oldest in Europe. Virtus is the second most titled basketball club in Italy after Olimpia Milano , having won 16 Italian national championships , 8 Italian National Cups and 4 Italian Supercups . Moreover, it is one of the most successful teams in European competitions, having won two EuroLeagues , one EuroCup , one FIBA Saporta Cup , one EuroChallenge and one Basketball Champions League . It currently plays in
1445-412: The 2016–17 season , the EuroLeague operates under a league format. Starting with the 2016–17 season , the EuroLeague is made up of 18 teams, with each playing every other team twice (once at home and once away) in a double round robin league regular season , for a total of 34 games played by each team. The top eight placed teams at the end of the regular season advance to playoffs , each playing
1530-466: The EuroCup . In November 2015, Euroleague Basketball and IMG agreed on a 10-year joint venture. Both Euroleague Basketball and IMG will manage the commercial operation, and the management of all global rights covering both media and marketing. The deal was worth €630 million guaranteed over 10 years, with projected revenues reaching €900 million. Along with the deal the league changed into
1615-490: The European Champions Cup , where it was eliminated in the semi-finals group stage. At the end of the season, Driscoll's two-year contract had expired. Porelli and Driscoll could not agree on a contract. Despite Driscoll's great successes, first as player, one championship, and two championships as a coach in five years, when no agreement was reached, Driscoll chose to return to retire from basketball. At
1700-557: The FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup , the second-tier level European-wide competition, defeating 79–74 the Real Madrid coached by George Karl . The final was characterized by an outstanding performance of Richardson, able of scoring 29 points. However, the team was once again eliminated in national playoffs' quarterfinals against Phonola Caserta . In 1990–91, Virtus placed third in the regular season but it
1785-516: The logo under the Black V, with a cross made by four F; the motto is still used by Virtus today. The team's home court was the former church of Santa Lucia in the city center, which could host a few hundred people. The first official championship of Virtus dates back to 1929. From 1929 to 1934, Virtus played in the first and second divisions within Emilia region. In 1934, the Bolognese team won
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#17328025102481870-823: The 2.Regionliga (5th division) with the new name of RheinStars Köln. Since 2015, the team plays in the ProA , Germany's second division of professional basketball. In 2018-19 season, the team was relegated to the Regionalliga from ProB (Germany's 3rd division of professional basketball) after finishing the season 5-17. Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA -sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed. [REDACTED] Johannes Strasser [REDACTED] Katharina Arnold Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA -sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed. To appear in this section
1955-452: The 2000–01 season. The SuproLeague , which was organized by FIBA , and the Euroleague , which was organized by Euroleague Basketball . The EuroLeague operated under a tournament system, from its inaugural 1958 season , through the 2015–16 season . *There were two competitions during the 2000–01 season. The SuproLeague , which was organized by FIBA , and the Euroleague , which was organized by Euroleague Basketball . Starting with
2040-514: The Bahamian center Elvis Rolle . Despite his fame, Nikolić did not succeed in bringing Virtus back to title, so in 1983, after the brief experiences of George Bisacca and Mauro Di Vincenzo, the 35 years-old Alberto Bucci , from Bologna, became the new head coach. In the same years, the club signed a deal with Granarolo , a milk and dairy production company, which became the new team's sponsor. The skilled American small forward Jan van Breda Kolff
2125-513: The Black V to sign with its historic rival, Olimpia Milan. This move was heavily criticised by Black V's fans, but it was approved by Porelli himself. However, despite the controversies which rose around his farewell, Peterson's legacy was huge: the American coach deeply changed the team's organization and contributed in bringing back Virtus to the top of Italian basketball after twenty years of struggles. After Peterson's departure, Terry Driscoll
2210-465: The Black V won its second EuroLeague , defeating 3–2 Tau Cerámica , in the first and only series in the history of EuroLeague finals. Manu Ginóbili was elected Finals MVP . On 19 June, Virtus won its 15th national championship, beating Paf Wennington Bologna 3–0, while Ginobili was elected Italian League MVP too. After the double in 1997–98, in 2000–01 season, Virtus completed a so-called Triple Crown (known in Italy as Grande Slam ), winning all
2295-602: The EuroCup makes it to the playoffs, it keeps the place for the following year. These are the teams that participate in the 2024–25 EuroLeague season: Since the beginning of the 2000–01 season ( Euroleague Basketball era): All averages include playoffs and Final Four games. This list shows the averages attendances of each team since the 16-team regular season was established in 2016. All averages include playoffs games. Note: Match between Panathinaikos and Barcelona on 18 April 2013, at OAKA Sports Center ,
2380-562: The Euroleague. Both organizations realized the need to come up with a unified competition and Euroleague Basketball negotiated terms and dictated proceedings which FIBA agreed to their terms. As a result, European club competition was fully integrated under Euroleague Basketball's umbrella and teams that competed in the FIBA SuproLeague during the 2000–01 season joined it as well. The authority in European professional basketball
2465-925: The Italian first division LBA as well as in the EuroLeague . The club is owned by the coffee entrepreneur Massimo Zanetti . Some of the club's star players over the years have included: Gianni Bertolotti , Tom McMillen , Carlo Caglieris , Renato Villalta , Marco Bonamico , Jim McMillian , Krešimir Ćosić , Roberto Brunamonti , Augusto Binelli , Micheal Ray Richardson , Jure Zdovc , Predrag Danilović , Cliff Levingston , Arijan Komazec , Orlando Woolridge , Zoran Savić , Bane Prelević , Alessandro Abbio , Radoslav Nesterović , Antoine Rigaudeau , Alessandro Frosini , Hugo Sconochini , Marko Jarić , Manu Ginóbili , Matjaž Smodiš , David Andersen , Travis Best , Keith Langford , Miloš Teodosić , Marco Belinelli , Daniel Hackett and Tornike Shengelia . While some of
2550-484: The Shareholders Executive Board. These twelve licensed clubs are: The remaining six EuroLeague places are held by associated clubs that have annual licences, of which one has a two-year wild card , three have one-year wild-cards and two are the finalists of the previous season's 2nd-tier European competition , the EuroCup . From the 2020–21 season, however, if the better of the two teams from
2635-626: The United States through the ESPN family of networks since 2023, starting with the playoffs of the 2022-2023 season. It was also televised in the United States and Canada on NBA TV and available online through ESPN3 (in English) and ESPN Deportes (in Spanish) until the 2017–2018 season. Starting with the 2017-2018 Final Four playoffs, and continuing into the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 seasons,
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2720-732: The agreement, starting with the 2010–11 season, the top European competition would be named Turkish Airlines Euroleague Basketball. Similarly, the EuroLeague Final Four would be named the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four, whereby the new league title would appear in all media accordingly. This title partnership was set to run for five seasons, with the option of extending it to an additional five. On 23 October 2013, Turkish Airlines and Euroleague Basketball agreed to extend their partnership, up until 2020. *There were two competitions during
2805-591: The beginning of the 1980–81 season, Driscoll's assistant, Ettore Zuccheri, became the new head coach, but he was later replaced by Renzo Ranuzzi . The team reached once again the national finals, but it slightly lost the playoff series by 2–1 against Cantù. Returning to the top in Italy, the Black V attempted to become a major team in Europe too, and in 1981 , Virtus reached the final of the FIBA European Champions Cup in Strasbourg . However,
2890-401: The beginning of the season, Porelli reached an agreement with Knorr , a German food and beverage brand, which became the team's sponsor. In 1988–89 Virtus won its third Italian Cup, but it was defeated in the semi-finals for the national championship against Enichem Livorno , coached by Bucci. Despite the playoffs' elimination, the season was considered a rebirth for Virtus: the national cup
2975-417: The beginning of the season, Sasha Danilović suddenly announced his retirement from basketball. The absence of a strong leader like Danilović and the subsequent ban for doping of another historic player like Hugo Sconochini, forced every single player of the team to take more responsibility, but at the same time opened spaces to the immature and talented newcomers, free to show their abilities and experience at
3060-429: The club's finances. In 1971, Porelli hired the American player John Fultz who, supported by important Italian players like Gianni Bertolotti and Luigi Serafini , succeeded in placing the team 5th in the national championship, the best result since 1967–68. In the following season, the team, composed by the same players and coached by Nico Messina, arrived 6th. In 1973, Porelli opened a new season of triumphs, thanks to
3145-409: The club's greatest coaches have been: Vittorio Tracuzzi , Dan Peterson , Terry Driscoll , Alberto Bucci , Ettore Messina , Aleksandar Đorđević and Sergio Scariolo . Virtus was founded in 1871 as a gymnastics club, forming its first professional basketball team in 1929 as part of a multi sports club. The club's motto was Forte Franco Fermo Fiero ("Strong Frank Firm Proud") and was inserted in
3230-634: The confirmation of Zoran Savić and Alessandro Abbio. In the same year, the club moved to PalaMalaguti , an indoor sporting arena in Casalecchio di Reno with a seating capacity of more than 8,000 people, leaving PalaDozza after almost 40 years. On 23 April 1998, Virtus won its first EuroLeague , defeating 58–44 AEK in Barcelona, with Savić elected MVP of the Final Four. While on 31 May, Virtus conquered its 14th national title, defeating in Game 5 of
3315-431: The control of the club, Porelli sold Virtus to Alfredo Cazzola, a local trade fair entrepreneur. During 23 years of tenure, Porelli won four national titles, four Italian Cups and one Cup Winner's Cup, transforming a simple basketball section of a multisport club into one of the richest and most successful teams in Europe. As president, Cazzola brought to Virtus an entrepreneurial mentality, which would be necessary in
3400-571: The coverage moved to FloSports , before returning later to the ESPN networks. The EuroLeague Final Four is broadcast on television in up to 213 countries and territories. The EuroLeague also has its own internet pay TV service, called EuroLeague TV . This is a partial list of television broadcasters that provide coverage of the EuroLeague. Source: Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna , known for sponsorship reasons as Virtus Segafredo Bologna ,
3485-429: The division tournament, obtaining the promotion in the top tournament after a hard-fought group of playoffs against Unione Sportiva of Milan and Ginnastica Rome . Team's captain was Venzo Vannini, while other important players were Giuseppe Palmieri and Giancarlo Marinelli . After the promotion, Virtus settled permanently at the top of the national basketball league, and achieved a long series of honorable placings: in
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3570-432: The final, Teamsystem Bologna . At twenty seconds from the end of the game, with Fortitudo leading by 4, Danilović scored a three-point shot and at the same time suffered a foul by Dominique Wilkins , completing the so-called "four-point shot". Then Virtus won the match in the overtime. The 1998 final between Virtus and Fortiudo is widely considered as the greatest one in the history of Italian basketball, with two teams from
3655-407: The final. In the following season, Renzo Poluzzi became the new head coach and led Virtus to its second championship. Under Poluzzi, Virtus won the title again in 1948 and 1949, achieving the so-called "four-peat". In 1949–50 season, the Black V arrived second after Olimpia Milano ; during these years, the long-time rivalry with Olimpia, known as "derby of Italy", began. Olimpia won the title for
3740-512: The first one after twenty years. In 1976–77, Virtus ended first in the regular season, however it lost the championship finals against Varese, by 2–0. In the following season, the Black V succeeded in reaching the national finals, but nonetheless it lost 2–1 against Varese again. The team also reached the final of the Cup Winner's Cup , but lost 84–82 against Gabetti Cantù . In 1978, after two consecutive second places, coach Peterson left
3825-463: The first round of 1986 playoffs and being eliminated in the quarterfinals of 1987 playoffs. In 1988, Krešimir Ćosić , a former Virtus star, replaced Gamba. Despite the head coach's change, the team continued collecting poor successes, being ousted in the Korać Cup 's quarterfinals and in the first round of national playoffs. In 1988, Porelli hired Bob Hill , who was New York Knicks ' head coach until
3910-464: The following season, Messina became the new coach of Italy's national basketball team and Alberto Bucci , returned to coach Virtus, with whom he had won a national championship in 1984. The team was completed with Cliff Levingston , two-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls . In the same year, Cazzola signed a deal with Buckler Beer , a brand of Heineken , which became the new sponsor of
3995-571: The latest FIBA European League with Partizan. Under the strong leadership of Danilović and the important support of Brunamonti, Claudio Coldebella , Paolo Moretti , Augusto Binelli and Bill Wennington , the team, coached by Ettore Messina, won its eleventh national championship, defeating 3–0 the Benetton Treviso . However the team was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the FIBA European League by Real Madrid Teka . In
4080-590: The national championship and was eliminated at the quarterfinals of the European Cup Winners' Cup . In 1975, McMillen started his career in the NBA, so Porelli and Peterson signed Terry Driscoll , a former NBA player and 4th overall pick in 1969 draft . Thanks to Driscoll's leadership and the fundamental support of Italian players like Carlo Caglieris , Gianni Bertolotti , Marco Bonamico and Luigi Serafini , Virtus won its seventh national championship,
4165-451: The new president of the club. Under Cazzola's presidency, Virtus lived a period which became known as its " Golden Age ", in which the Black V won four national titles, two Italian Cups and a EuroLeague, becoming one of the most notable and successful teams in Europe. In the 2000–01 season, Madrigali and Brunamonti signed important players, like Marko Jarić , Manu Ginóbili , Matjaž Smodiš , Rashard Griffith and David Andersen ; while at
4250-513: The new team with FuturVirtus brand, guaranteeing, therefore, the continuity of the glorious name "Virtus" despite the exclusion from the championships. In 2003–04 season, Sabatini signed important former NBA players like Charles Smith , Vonteego Cummings and Rick Brunson . The team was initially coached by Giampiero Ticchi, who was replaced in November by Alberto Bucci , Black V's historic coach. Despite good premises, FuturVirtus did not reach
4335-423: The next four years too, while the Black V placed second in 1952 and 1953. In 1954, Vittorio Tracuzzi was appointed new head coach; Tracuzzi was a Virtus player too, acting as a " player-coach ". At the end of the season, Tracuzzi led Virtus to its fifth national title. The team doubled the next season, achieving a so-called "back-to-back". During the 1950s the first derbies were played against Gira and Moto Morini,
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#17328025102484420-411: The next three seasons, Alesini did not reach to bring back the title to Bologna. In 1966, Jaroslav Šíp was hired as new head coach, but Virtus never became a real contender for the championship, with Olimpia and Ignis which alternatively won the title until 1968. The 1960s had been an unfortunate decade for Virtus. The turning point occurred in 1968, when the lawyer Gianluigi Porelli was appointed by
4505-512: The nine championships disputed from 1935 to the outbreak of the Second World War , the Black V collected 6-second places, 2 third places, and a sixth place, however Virtus never achieved to win a national title. From 1943 to 1945, the championship was suspended due to the outbreak of the war in the country and the beginning of the civil war . At the end of the world war, Santa Lucia was no longer available for basketball games and after
4590-516: The other two teams of Bologna. Due to the increasing fame of Virtus, the Sala Borsa was no longer suitable for hosting games; so in 1956, the long-time Mayor of Bologna , Giuseppe Dozza , inaugurated a new arena , which was simply known as "Sports Hall" and had a seating capacity of more than 7,000 people. The arena was later nicknamed Il Madison , after New York's Madison Square Garden and, in 1966, after Dozza's retirement from politics, it
4675-571: The previous season. Hill brought in Italy two former NBA players: Micheal Ray Richardson , worldwide known as "Sugar", an NBA All-Star and former player for the Knicks and New Jersey Nets , who was banned from the NBA for violations of league's drug policy, and Clemon Johnson , 1983 NBA champion with the Philadelphia 76ers , who also played for the Indiana Pacers and Seattle SuperSonics . At
4760-551: The promotion in Serie A, losing 3–0 in the final series of playoffs from Aurora Jesi . During the summer of 2004 the club obtained the re-affiliation to the Italian Basketball Federation and the right to use the name "Virtus Pallacanestro" again. The team was completed, among others, with Corey Brewer , A.J. Guyton and Bennett Davison and was coached by Giordano Consolini, who served as Messina's assistant for years. On 3 June 2005, Virtus returned to
4845-489: The rest of the team remained untouched. In May 1995, Virtus won its 13th title, defeating 3–0 Benetton Treviso, accomplishing a so-called " three-peat ". However, for the third consecutive times, the team which dominated the Italian league was eliminated at the FIBA European League quarterfinals, this time by Panathinaikos . After the three-peat, Danilović left Virtus for the Miami Heat . Cazzola signed Arijan Komazec ,
4930-519: The same city, which were among the best ones in the continent. During this period, Bologna was nicknamed "Basket City", due to the fame and the victories of town's two teams. In the following season, Virtus won its 7th Italian Cup in January 1999. The team also defeated Fortitudo 57–62 in a historic EuroLeague's semi-final in Munich , but it lost 82–74 in the final against Žalgiris of Tyus Edney and
5015-485: The same competition, with the change of name being simply a re-branding. The EuroLeague is one of the most popular indoor sports leagues in the world, with an average attendance of 10,383 for league matches in the 2023–24 season . This was the fifth-highest of any professional indoor sports league in the world (the highest outside the United States), and the second-highest of any professional basketball league in
5100-495: The same year, the team completed a domestic double by adding a National Cup. In 1984–85, Virtus reached the semi-final group stage of the Champions Cup , where, however, it was eliminated. After a defeat in the playoffs' quarterfinals against Olimpia, Bucci was sacked and Sandro Gamba became the new coach. Gamba, one of the most successful Italian coaches of all time, did not succeed in winning with Virtus too, exiting in
5185-428: The semi-finals by the other Bologna's team, Teamsystem , which, after years of poor results, was becoming increasingly competitive. In 1997, Roberto Brunamonti became team's general manager, while coach Messina and Sasha Danilović returned to Virtus and the team was completed with important international players like Radoslav Nesterovič , Antoine Rigaudeau , Hugo Sconochini and Alessandro Frosini , as well as with
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#17328025102485270-476: The team placed 10th once again. In 1970, thanks to Porelli, Virtus was also one of the main proponents and founders of the Lega Basket , the governing body of the top-tier level professional Italian basketball league . In the same year, Virtus broke away from the multi sports club, becoming a joint-stock company . Thanks to this choice, which was highly criticised at the time, Porelli definitively healed
5355-558: The team's future growth. In the 1991–92 season, the Black V, led by captain Brunamonti and Jure Zdovc , reached the national semi-finals, but lost against Scavolini Pesaro , which had already eliminated Virtus in the national cup few months before. The team also lost against Partizan in the FIBA European League quarterfinals. In the summer of 1992, Cazzola signed Predrag Danilović , a young Yugoslav player who won
5440-534: The team. In October 1993, Virtus took part to the McDonald's Open in Munich, where it arrived second, after the Phoenix Suns . In May 1994, Virtus won its second consecutive national title, defeating 3–2 Scavolini Pesaro, after a very contested final. Once again, the Black V was ousted during the FIBA European League quarterfinals by Olympiacos . In the 1994–95 season, Joe Binion replaced Levingston, while
5525-422: The team. Virtus, led by its best player Gianfranco Lombardi , took part in its first European Champions Cup , but it was ousted by CCA Bucarest in the second round. At the end of the Italian regular season, the Black V placed second again, behind Ignis Varese . In 1962 and 1963 Virtus arrived third and Kucharski was sacked, while Mario Alesini , a former Virtus player, became the new head coach. However, in
5610-546: The then president of the multi-sport club, Giovanni Elkan, at the head of the basketball section. Alternately nicknamed " Torquemada " or " Robespierre " for his quick and often dictatorial methods, or, more frequently, L'Avvocato ("The Lawyer"), Porelli has been one of the most prominent figures in the history of Virtus which, through initiatives often unpopular but almost always winning, definitively carried towards professionalism. As soon as he arrived, at only 38 years old, Porelli sacked coach Šíp and appointed Renzo Ranuzzi ,
5695-660: The title in only two games. The team also reached the semi-finals of the Cup Winners' Cup , where it was eliminated for only one point by the Dutch EBBC . In the following season, Porelli signed Jim McMillian , a 1972 NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers . McMillian, who was immediately nicknamed by Virtus fans as Il Duca Nero ("The Black Duke"), led the team achieving a back-to-back, winning its ninth titles against Cantù. The team took part also in
5780-591: The top division, defeating 3–0 the Premiata Montegranaro . In the 2005–06 season, Sabatini hired Zare Markovski from Macedonia as new head coach and signed, among others, David Bluthenthal , Dušan Vukčević and Christian Drejer . Despite a good season's start the team ended 9th, out of the playoffs. After the end of the season, Bluthenthal, who was Black V's top scorer, went to Fortitudo, while Virtus confirmed Vukčević and Drejer, as well as coach Markovski. Moreover, Sabatini signed Travis Best ,
5865-502: The trophies that it could won. In the following season, Virtus won its 8th Italian Cup, but after some defeats Madrigali fired Messina. However, after a field invasion by Virtus supporters before a match against Pallacanestro Trieste , Madrigali was forced to re-hire him. Despite this, the team lost 89–83 the EuroLeague final , which was held in PalaMalaguti, against Panathinaikos of Dejan Bodiroga and Željko Obradović , and
5950-409: The two leagues: Panathinaikos , Maccabi Tel Aviv , CSKA Moscow and Efes Pilsen stayed with FIBA, while Olympiacos , Kinder Bologna , Real Madrid Teka , FC Barcelona , Paf Wennington Bologna , Žalgiris Kaunas , Benetton Treviso , AEK and Tau Cerámica joined Euroleague Basketball . In May 2001, Europe had two continental champions, Maccabi of the FIBA SuproLeague and Kinder Bologna of
6035-510: The world, only behind the National Basketball Association (NBA). The EuroLeague title has been won by 22 clubs, 14 of which have won it more than once. The most successful club in the competition is Real Madrid , with eleven titles. The FIBA European Champions Cup was originally established by FIBA and it operated from 1958 until the summer of 2000, concluding with the 1999–00 season . Euroleague Basketball
6120-521: The young Slovenian Sani Bečirovič . The bankruptcy was avoided thanks to the intervention of a local trade fair entrepreneur, Claudio Sabatini, who transacted all the debts of the club, after agreements with creditors and took over the company from Madrigali. Sabatini acquired also the club Progresso Castelmaggiore, from a small town in Bologna's hinterland, which played in Serie A2 and sponsored
6205-426: Was also added to the roster. Virtus ended the regular season second, after Peterson's Olimpia. The two teams faced themselves in a historic final, always remembered as one of the best in Italian basketball history, in which Virtus defeated Olimpia by 2–1, reaching its 10th national title, also known as La Stella ("The Star"), due to the star which is attributed to teams that manage to win ten national championships. In
6290-475: Was appointed new head coach. Porelli signed also Krešimir Ćosić , one of the best centers in Europe; the team was also composed by great Italian players as Renato Villalta , Carlo Caglieris and the captain Gianni Bertolotti . In the national finals, Virtus faced its former coach, Dan Peterson and his new team, Olimpia. Despite the great expectations around a hard-fought final, the Black V easily won
6375-636: Was created after the end of the FIBA European Champions Cup. FIBA had previously used the flying pigeon name for the competition since 1996 but had never trademarked the name. As FIBA had no legal recourse on the usage of the name, it started a new league named the FIBA SuproLeague . The following 2000–2001 season started with two top European professional club basketball competitions: FIBA SuproLeague (renamed from FIBA EuroLeague) and Euroleague. Top clubs were split between
6460-657: Was divided over club-country lines. FIBA stayed in charge of national team competitions (like the FIBA EuroBasket , the FIBA World Cup , and the Summer Olympics ), while Euroleague Basketball took over the European professional club competitions. From that point on, FIBA's Korać Cup and Saporta Cup competitions lasted one more season and then Euroleague Basketball launched the ULEB Cup, now known as
6545-482: Was eliminated in the semi-finals for the national championship by Benetton Treviso. In 2003, Ginóbili moved to the NBA, where he played for the San Antonio Spurs , and Ettore Messina was hired by Benetton, thus Bogdan Tanjević was appointed new head coach. During the summer, due to contrasts with Madrigali, Brunamonti also left the club, after nearly 20 years spent as player and general manager. After
6630-553: Was eliminated in the semi-finals for the national championship by Treviso. In 1999–2000 season, the Black V lost the Italian Cup final against Treviso and was defeated 83–76 by AEK, in the FIBA Saporta Cup 's final in Lausanne . Moreover, Virtus was once again eliminated by Treviso, in the semi-finals for the national championship. In May 2000, Cazzola sold Virtus to Marco Madrigali, a video game entrepreneur, who became
6715-568: Was eventually eliminated by Stefanel Milano in the playoffs' semi-finals. Moreover, the team did not succeed in passing the second group stage of the Champions Cup. In 1996, captain Roberto Brunamonti retired from basketball after 14 seasons as a Virtus player. During the summer, the club signed important international players like Zoran Savić from Real Madrid Teka and Branislav Prelević from PAOK . Moreover, Kinder ,
6800-478: Was first organized by FIBA in 1958, subsequently by ULEB in 2000 and then solely the Euroleague Basketball . The competition was introduced in 1958 as the FIBA European Champions Cup (renamed the FIBA EuroLeague in 1996), which operated under FIBA's umbrella until Euroleague Basketball was created for the 2000–01 season. The FIBA European Champions Cup and the EuroLeague are considered to be
6885-445: Was once again eliminated in the national semi-finals by Caserta. At the end of the season, Richardson was not confirmed and signed for Slobodna Dalmacija , putting an end to a three-year period in which he brought Virtus to win its first European trophy and laid the foundations for club's successes in the following years. In 1991, after two years of internal struggles within the shareholders' assembly, during which he also briefly lost
6970-461: Was renamed " PalaDozza ". From 1956 to 1960, Virtus placed second, always behind its arch-rival Olimpia Milan. At the end of the 1959–60 season, Tracuzzi left Virtus after having won two championships in five seasons, with a winning record of 108–22, being widely considered one of Black V's greatest coaches of all time. In 1960, the Spanish coach, Eduardo Kucharski, succeeded Tracuzzi at the head of
7055-643: Was selected with the 9th overall pick by the Buffalo Braves during the 1974 NBA draft . He signed with the Braves but postponed his entry into the NBA to attend the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar . McMillen lived and studied in the UK, but he moved to Bologna during the weekends to play basketball. At the end of the season, characterized by outstanding performances by McMillen, the team placed 4th in
7140-504: Was supposedly watched by about 30,000 spectators. However, it is not included in the table as the official data is 18,300. As of 4/4/2023 Partizan holds 10 games in top 10 most attended games. The EuroLeague season is broadcast on television, and can be seen in up to 201 countries and territories. It can be seen by up to 245 million (800 million via satellite) households weekly in China. EuroLeague basketball has been televised in
7225-461: Was the team's first trophy since 1984 and the great performances of Richardson had brought back the passion for basketball in the city. This period became known as "Sugar-mania", from Richardson's historic nickname. In the following summer, Hill surprisingly resigned from his post and his assistant, the 30 years-old Ettore Messina , was appointed new head coach. The Black V won the Italian Cup again and on 13 March 1990, won its first European title,
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