Victoria Libertas Pesaro
Encyclopedia
Victoria Libertas 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 professional basketball league, the Lega Basket Serie A. It is commonly known across Europe
as Scavolini Pesaro, from the name of its main sponsor Scavolini, an Italian kitchen designer and manufacturer, whose co-founder Valter Scavolini was formerly club president. For past club sponsorship names, see the list below.
). Since then, Italian League was won twice (in 1988 and 1990), and the Italian Cup was also won twice (in 1985 and 1992).
In recent years, Victoria Libertas was among the best European teams, having played the Euroleague
in 2001-02 and 2004-05 seasons. In 2004-05 it unexpectedly got to the Euroleague Top-8, being defeated in the quarter finals by eventual champion Maccabi Tel Aviv. Furthermore, Victoria Libertas shooting guard, Charles Smith
, was honored with the first-ever Euroleague's Alphonso Ford
Top Scorer Trophy, named after the late Euroleague scoring champ who died in 2004 and who was replaced in Victoria Libertas by Smith himself.
).
The new team, named Scavolini Gruppo Spar (or simply Scavolini-Spar), played the 2005-06 season in the Italian Third Division (B1). Owners' target resulted in Scavolini-Spar having large amounts of money at its disposal compared with the other teams of the league. Players from the upper divisions were enrolled, star Carlton Myers
among them, which lead the team to win the league and gain promotion to the Second Division (LegaDue
).
In 2006-07 Scavolini-Spar won the LegaDue playoff series, lining up players such as Carlton Myers, Rodney White
(9th overall pick of the 2001 NBA Draft
), Mindaugas Žukauskas
(captain of the Lithuanian national basketball team) and Michael Hicks (Panamian national team star). The team was therefore promoted, for the second straight year, to play the Lega Basket Serie A
2007-08 league.
Following the 2009–10 season, Spar's secondary sponsorship contract expired. The club picked up a new secondary sponsor in Italian clothing company Siviglia, theriby changing its full sponsored name to Scavolini Siviglia Style Pesaro (more simply Scavolini Siviglia Pesaro).
into the new BPA Palas arena (today: ADRIATIC Arena
) which now hosts its home games. Drawing large audiences from nearby towns and the whole Marche
region, in mid 2000s Victoria Libertas was among the top ten basketball
teams in Europe
for average attendance.
|
|Simone Flamini
|Power forward
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team that is based in Pesaro
Pesaro
Pesaro is a town and comune in the Italian region of the Marche, capital of the Pesaro e Urbino province, on the Adriatic. According to the 2007 census, its population was 92,206....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. The club competes in the top level Italian professional basketball league, the Lega Basket Serie A. It is commonly known across Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
as Scavolini Pesaro, from the name of its main sponsor Scavolini, an Italian kitchen designer and manufacturer, whose co-founder Valter Scavolini was formerly club president. For past club sponsorship names, see the list below.
History
Victoria Libertas was officially founded in 1946 and had its best seasons during the 1980s. After being among the top teams in Italy for decades, Victoria Libertas won its first important trophy in 1983 (European Cup Winners' CupSaporta Cup
Saporta Cup was the name of the second-tier level European professional club basketball competition, where the National Cup winners from all over Europe played against each other. The competition was organized by FIBA Europe...
). Since then, Italian League was won twice (in 1988 and 1990), and the Italian Cup was also won twice (in 1985 and 1992).
In recent years, Victoria Libertas was among the best European teams, having played the Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
in 2001-02 and 2004-05 seasons. In 2004-05 it unexpectedly got to the Euroleague Top-8, being defeated in the quarter finals by eventual champion Maccabi Tel Aviv. Furthermore, Victoria Libertas shooting guard, Charles Smith
Charles Cornelius Smith
Charles Cornelius Smith is an American professional basketball player...
, was honored with the first-ever Euroleague's Alphonso Ford
Alphonso Ford
Alphonso Gene Ford was an American professional basketball player. A 1.93 m tall shooting guard, he was one of the greatest scorers in college basketball history. Ford played professionally in both the NBA and the Euroleague, where he confirmed his tremendous scoring ability and became a...
Top Scorer Trophy, named after the late Euroleague scoring champ who died in 2004 and who was replaced in Victoria Libertas by Smith himself.
Recent history
In July 2005, as a consequence of the poor administration of the previous two seasons, Victoria Libertas failed to remain within the parameters required to join the Italian Basketball League and wound up. Pesaro's second team, Falco Spar, agreed with former Victoria Libertas president Valter Scavolini to join forces to invest in a team to bring back Victoria Libertas to Italian First Division (Lega Basket Serie ASerie A (basketball)
Lega Basket Serie A is the highest level club competition in Italian professional basketball where play determines the national champion. The season consists of a home-and-away schedule of 30 games, followed by an eight-team playoff round. Quarterfinals and semifinals series are best-of-five, and...
).
The new team, named Scavolini Gruppo Spar (or simply Scavolini-Spar), played the 2005-06 season in the Italian Third Division (B1). Owners' target resulted in Scavolini-Spar having large amounts of money at its disposal compared with the other teams of the league. Players from the upper divisions were enrolled, star Carlton Myers
Carlton Myers
Carlton Ettore Francesco Myers is a retired Italian basketball player that played in the Italian league and the Euroleague...
among them, which lead the team to win the league and gain promotion to the Second Division (LegaDue
LegADue
Legadue or Lega2 is the second-highest division of professional club basketball in Italy since 2001-2002 season...
).
In 2006-07 Scavolini-Spar won the LegaDue playoff series, lining up players such as Carlton Myers, Rodney White
Rodney White
Rodney Charles White is an American professional basketball player currently playing in South Korea for the Anyang KGC Pro Basketball Club...
(9th overall pick of the 2001 NBA Draft
2001 NBA Draft
The 2001 NBA Draft took place on June 27, 2001 in New York City, New York. Kwame Brown became the first high school player drafted with the first overall pick...
), Mindaugas Žukauskas
Mindaugas Žukauskas
Mindaugas Žukauskas is a Lithuanian professional basketball player. He was a captain of the Lithuanian national basketball team. In August 2006 Žukauskas transferred from Montepaschi to another Italian team Scavolini Pesaro...
(captain of the Lithuanian national basketball team) and Michael Hicks (Panamian national team star). The team was therefore promoted, for the second straight year, to play the Lega Basket Serie A
Serie A (basketball)
Lega Basket Serie A is the highest level club competition in Italian professional basketball where play determines the national champion. The season consists of a home-and-away schedule of 30 games, followed by an eight-team playoff round. Quarterfinals and semifinals series are best-of-five, and...
2007-08 league.
Following the 2009–10 season, Spar's secondary sponsorship contract expired. The club picked up a new secondary sponsor in Italian clothing company Siviglia, theriby changing its full sponsored name to Scavolini Siviglia Style Pesaro (more simply Scavolini Siviglia Pesaro).
Arena and supporters
In 1996 Victoria Libertas moved from the historic "hangar" arenaArena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
into the new BPA Palas arena (today: ADRIATIC Arena
ADRIATIC Arena
ADRIATIC Arena, formerly known as BPA Palace, is an indoor sporting arena located in Pesaro, Italy. The seat capacity of the arena it's 10.323 seats...
) which now hosts its home games. Drawing large audiences from nearby towns and the whole Marche
Marche
The population density in the region is below the national average. In 2008, it was 161.5 inhabitants per km2, compared to the national figure of 198.8. It is highest in the province of Ancona , and lowest in the province of Macerata...
region, in mid 2000s Victoria Libertas was among the top ten basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
teams in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
for average attendance.
Roster 2011-12
|14|
|Simone Flamini
|Power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
Notable players
Agide Fava Sandro Riminucci Franco Bertini- Michael Mike Sylvester 6 season: '80-'86 Walter MagnificoWalter Magnifico Walter Magnifico is a former Italian basketball player. A 2.09 m Power Forward/Center, he spent most of his career in Scavolini Pesaro, thus becoming one of the club's emblems. While in Pesaro he led his team to a Saporta Cup in 1983, two Italian championship titles in 1988 and 1990 as well as two... 19 seasons: '80-'96, '98-'01 Dragan Kićanović Dragan Kicanovic Dragan Kićanović is a retired Serbian professional basketball player. A 1.91m tall shooting guard, he played in the 70's and 80's and is considered as one of the best European players and scorers of all time, having won both the Mr. Europa and the Euroscar European Player of the Year awards in... 2 seasons: '81-'83 Zeljko Jerkov 1 seasons: '82-'83 Andrea Gracis 11 seasons: '83-'94 Ario Costa 12 seasons: '84-'96 Darren Daye Darren Daye Darren Keefe Daye is a retired American professional basketball player. The 6'8", 220 lb guard-forward played high-school basketball for Kennedy High School in Granada Hills, CA, and attended UCLA... 5 seasons: '87-'92 Renzo Vecchiato Renzo Vecchiato Renzo Vecchiato is a former basketball player from Italy, who won the silver medal with his national team at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.-References:... 2 seasons: '87-'89 Darwin Cook Darwin Cook Darwin Louis Cook is an American former professional basketball in the NBA.Cook, a 6'3"/1.91 m point guard played for four seasons at the University of Portland, and was subsequently selected by the Detroit Pistons with 70th overall pick in the 1980 NBA draft.His NBA career lasted from 1980 to... 3 seasons: '87-'88, '89-'91 Greg Ballard Greg Ballard Gregory Ballard is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA.Ballard attended the University of Oregon where he played at the collegiate level at the forward position... 1 season: '87-'88 Aco Petrović 1 season: '87-'88 Larry Drew Larry Drew Larry Donnell Drew is the current head basketball coach of the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association. He is also a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Detroit Pistons in the 1st round of the 1980 NBA Draft... 1 season: '88-'89 Haywoode Workman Haywoode Workman Haywoode Wilvon Workman is a retired American basketball player, and active NBA referee.He played the point guard position at 6'2", and played 359 games in eight NBA seasons for five teams from 1989 to 2000... 2 seasons: '91-'93 Dean Garrett Dean Garrett Dean Heath Garrett is a retired American professional basketball player, 6'11" tall, who played the center position.... 2 seasons: '93-'95 George McCloud George McCloud George Aaron McCloud is a retired American professional basketball player.-Early life:McCloud attended Mainland High School in Daytona Beach and Florida State University in Tallahassee.-Professional career:... 1 season: '93-'94 Sandro Dell'Agnello 2 seasons: '94-'96 Antonello Riva Antonello Riva Antonello Riva is an Italian retired basketball player. Nicknamed "Nembo Kid", he started playing basketball in 1977-78.... 2 seasons: '94-'96 Corey Gaines Corey Gaines Corey Yasuto Gaines is an American former professional basketball player and the current coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury.... 1 season: '94-'95 Paolo Conti 5 seasons: '95-'00 Kevin Thompson Kevin Thompson (basketball) Kevin Lamont Thompson is an American professional basketball player.Thompson, a 6'11" center, was selected 48th overall in the 1993 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. His NBA career consisted of 14 games for the Blazers, averaging 0.9 points and 0.9 rebounds per game.-External links:* @... 2 seasons: '95-'97 Lloyd Daniels Lloyd Daniels Lloyd Daniels is a retired American professional and semi-professional basketball player.The 6'7" shooting guard was one of the most sought-after recruits in the nation during the 1986-87 recruiting cycle. At the time, he was considered the most talented player from New York City since Kareem... 1 season: '95-'96-  Peter GuarasciPeter Guarasci Peter Guarasci is a professional basketball power forward-centre from Canada. Having played in Serie A and the Basketball Bundesliga, he currently plays in the Lega2 in Italy and is a former prominent member of the Canadian national men's basketball team.Guarasci played collegiately for Fairfield... 3 seasons: '96-'99 Vincenzo Esposito Vincenzo Esposito Vincenzo Esposito is an Italian former professional basketball player. He is 1.94 m tall and played as a shooting guard... 2 seasons: '96-'98 Lance Miller 1 season: '96-'97 Melvin Booker Melvin Booker Melvin Jermaine Booker is an American basketball player. A 6'1" , 185 lb point guard, he played collegiately for the Missouri Tigers.... 4 seasons: '97-'98, '99-'02-  Juan Manuel Moltedo 3 seasons: '97-'00 Yann BonatoYann Bonato Yann Bonato is a basketball player from France, who won the silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics with the Men's National Team.-References:*... 1 season: '97-'98 |
Todd Day Todd Day Todd Fitzgerald Day is a retired American professional basketball player. Day is the all-time leading scorer at the University of Arkansas, and played eight seasons in the NBA... 1 season: '97-'98 Tony Dawson Tony Dawson For the British actor see Anthony Dawson.Tony Dawson is a retired American professional basketball player. A 6'7" and 210 lb. small forward, he played college basketball at Gulf Coast Community College and Florida State University. He played a handful of NBA games during the 1990s... 1 season: '98-'99 Myron Brown Myron Brown Julian Myron Brown is a retired American basketball player, formerly in the NBA and the Italian basketball league. At 6'3" and 180 lb , he played as a shooting guard.-College:After a stellar high school career at Sto-Rox Jr./Sr... 1 season: '98-'99-  Silvio Gigena 6 seasons: '99-'05 Joseph BlairJoseph Blair Joseph Blair is a retired American professional basketball player. He is 2.10 m tall and he weighs 120 kg . He played as a forward-center... 2 seasons: '99-'00, '01-'02 DeMarco Johnson DeMarco Johnson DeMarco Antonio Johnson is an American professional basketball player.At 6'9", 245 lb forward, Johnson attended and played collegiately for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and was selected by the New York Knicks with the 9th pick of the 2nd round of the 1998 NBA Draft... 2 seasons: '00-'02 Marko Tušek Marko Tušek - Honors :Clubs Honors*Slovenian League champion - 93/94, 95/96, 96/97, 97/98 with KK Union Olimpija*Slovenian Cup champion - 93/94, 94/95, 96/97, 97/98 with KK Union Olimpija*Champions of Cup Winners - 93/94 with KK Union Olimpija... 2 seasons: '00-'02 Jason Smith 1 season: '01 Miroslav Berić Miroslav Beric Miroslav "Mića" Berić is a retired Serbian professional basketball player. Standing at 6 ft 7 in , Berić played the shooting guard position. A great scorer, he led the 2001 Euroleague in scoring with 23.3 ppg, playing for Partizan Belgrade.Berić has been a regular member of the Yugoslav... 2 seasons: '01-'03 Clarence Gilbert 1 season: '02-'03- Ken Lacey 1 season: '02-'03 Aaron McGheeAaron McGhee Aaron DeShon McGhee is an American professional basketball forward, currently playing for Khimik Yuzhny in Ukrainian League.- College career :... 1 season: '02-'03 Norm Richardson Norman Richardson Charles Norman Richardson is an American professional basketball player. A 6'5" 190/200 lb shooting guard, played college basketball at Hofstra University and had a brief stint in the NBA in 2001-02.... 1 season: '02-'03 Chris Gatling Chris Gatling Chris Raymond Gatling is a retired American professional basketball player, having played for numerous NBA teams from 1991 to 2002... 1 season: '02-'03 Marko Milič Marko Milic Marko Milič is a Slovenian professional basketball player. Milič's father, Vladimir, was a shot putting champion in the former Yugoslavia. His mother, Metka Papler, is a former successful sportswoman of the same origin... 2 seasons: '03-'05-  Aleksandar Djordjevic 2 seasons: '03-'05 Alphonso FordAlphonso Ford Alphonso Gene Ford was an American professional basketball player. A 1.93 m tall shooting guard, he was one of the greatest scorers in college basketball history. Ford played professionally in both the NBA and the Euroleague, where he confirmed his tremendous scoring ability and became a... 1 season: '03-'04 (his last team before his untimely death on September 4, 2004) Rodney Elliott 1 season: '03-'04 Bud Eley 1 season: '03-'04 Charles Smith Charles Cornelius Smith Charles Cornelius Smith is an American professional basketball player... 1 season: '04-'05 Hanno Möttölä Hanno Möttölä Hanno Aleksanteri Möttölä is a Finnish professional basketball player. Möttölä previously played for the Atlanta Hawks in the National Basketball Association , in the power forward position, where he became the first player from Finland to play in the NBA.Möttölä attended the University of Utah in... 1 season: '04-'05 Teemu Rannikko Teemu Rannikko Teemu Rannikko is a Finnish professional basketball player. He is 1.89 m tall and he weighs 88 kg . He plays at the point guard position. He is currently playing for Pallacanestro Varese.-External links:**... 2 seasons: '03-'05 Scoonie Penn Scoonie Penn James "Scoonie" Donell Penn is an American professional basketball player. He plays at the point guard position. His height is 5 ft 11 in and he weighs 180 pounds.-Amateur career:... 1 season: '04-'05 Robert Archibald Robert Archibald Robert Michael Archibald Jr. is a Scottish professional basketball player. A 6'11" power forward-center from the University of Illinois, he was selected by the NBA club the Memphis Grizzlies with the third pick of the second round of the 2002 NBA Draft... 1 season: '04-'05 Mindaugas Žukauskas Mindaugas Žukauskas Mindaugas Žukauskas is a Lithuanian professional basketball player. He was a captain of the Lithuanian national basketball team. In August 2006 Žukauskas transferred from Montepaschi to another Italian team Scavolini Pesaro... 3 seasons: '06-'09 Rodney White Rodney White Rodney Charles White is an American professional basketball player currently playing in South Korea for the Anyang KGC Pro Basketball Club... 1 season: '06-'07- Dan Gay 1 season: '07-'08 |
Sponsorship names
In the past, due to sponsorship deals, it has also been known as:- Benelli Pesaro (1952–58)
- Lanco Pesaro (1958–61)
- Algor Pesaro (1961–63)
- Butangas Pesaro (1966–69)
- Frizz Pelmo Pesaro (1969–70)
- Tropicali Pesaro (1970–71)
- Maxmobili Pesaro (1971–75)
- Scavolini Pesaro (1975–present)
External links
- Official Site
- Eurobasket.com Team Page
- Previous Season Stats (LegaBasket 2007-08)
- Latest Stats (LegaBasket 2008-09)