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{{Infobox Basketball club
{{Infobox Basketball club
| color1 = orange
| color1 = white
| color2 = black
| color2 = black
| color3 = orange
| name = Viola Reggio Calabria
| name = Viola Reggio Calabria
| logo =
| logo = Viola Reggio Calabria logo.png
| imagesize =
| imagesize =
| nickname = <small>''i Nero-Arancio''<br>(''the black&orange team'')</small>
| nickname =''Nero-Arancio'' (The Black and Oranges)
| leagues = Serie B Dilettanti
| leagues =
| founded = 1966
| founded = 1966 (refounded 1997, 2009)
| history = {{collapsible list|
| history = '''Cestistica Piero Viola''' <br />(1966-1997)<br />'''Basket Viola Reggio Calabria'''<br />(1998)<br />'''Nuovo Basket Viola Reggio '98'''<br />(1998-2007)<br />'''Team Basket Viola'''<br />(2009-present)
*'''Cestistica Piero Viola''' <br />(1966–1997)
| arena = [[PalaCalafiore|PalaPentimele]]<br>(~ 8,500 seats)
| location = [[Reggio Calabria|Reggio Calabria (RC)]], [[Italy]]
*'''Basket Viola {{Tooltip|R.C.|Reggio Calabria}}'''<br />(1998)
*'''Nuovo Basket Viola Reggio '98'''<br />(1998–2007)
| colors = Black and Orange<br>{{color box|black}} {{color box|orange}}
*'''Team Basket Viola {{Tooltip|R.C.|Reggio Calabria}}'''<br />(2007–2009)
| president =
*'''Scuola Basket Viola {{Tooltip|R.C.|Reggio Calabria}}'''<br />(2009–2012)
| coach = {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Massimo Bianchi]]
*'''Viola Reggio Calabria'''<br />(2012–2019)
| championships = '''<small>3 [[LegaDue|Serie A2 League]]'''<br />1984/85, 1988/89, 1991/92</small>
}}
| website = [http://www.teambasketviola.it www.teambasketviola.it]
| arena = PalaCalafiore
| capacity = 8,500
| location = [[Reggio Calabria]], [[Calabria]], [[Italy]]
| colors = Black and Orange <br>{{color box|black}} {{color box|orange}}
| president =
| coach =
| championships = '''3''' [[Serie A2 Basket|Serie A2]] Championships
| website = [http://viola.rc.it/ viola.rc.it]
| h_body=ff9907|h_pattern_b=_blacksides|h_shorts=ff9907|h_pattern_s=_blacksides
| h_body=ff9907|h_pattern_b=_blacksides|h_shorts=ff9907|h_pattern_s=_blacksides
| a_body=fbfaf8|a_pattern_b=_orangesides|a_shorts=ef6c16|a_pattern_s=_blanksides2
| a_body=fbfaf8|a_pattern_b=_orangesides|a_shorts=ef6c16|a_pattern_s=_blanksides2
}}
}}
'''Viola Reggio Calabria''' was an Italian professional [[basketball]] club based in [[Reggio Calabria]], [[Calabria]].


At its heyday the club was renowned for discovering talented players who would go on to play at the highest level, for example five former players took part in the [[Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Olympics]] final. However, Viola was also plagued by financial problems, with the club filing for [[bankruptcy]] in three occasions (1997, 2009 and 2019), that later sent it out the Italian elite.
'''Viola Reggio Calabria''' is the name traditionally given to the main men's professional [[basketball]] team from the city [[Reggio Calabria]], [[Italy]]. The team colors are [[black]] and [[Orange (colour)|orange]].


In 2019 a phoenix club, called Viola Supporters Trust, was formed by the fans of Viola Reggio Calabria. It currently plays in Serie C Silver Calabria, the fifth tier of the Italian pyramid.
The name comes from Cestistica Piero Viola, a basketball team founded in 1966 by the judge Giuseppe Viola in honor of his dead brother Piero, and which folded at the end of 1997. A new team was founded in 1998 and soon renamed to Basket Viola Reggio Calabria, but this new team again went bankrupt at the end of 2007.


==History==
A new team, Team Basket Viola, was founded in 2009, starting from [[Serie B Dilettanti]], the fourth-tier professional basketball league in [[Italy]].
The club was founded in 1966 as Cestistica Piero Viola by judge Peppino Viola in honour of his late brother Piero. It started playing in the Serie C that season, replacing AICS Reggio Calabria where Piero Viola had played at that level, finishing ninth. The club would establish itself in the Serie C (renamed Serie B from 1974–75) during the succeeding years.
It would reach the professional second division [[Serie A2 Basket|Serie A2]] in 1983.
After a mid-table finish in its first season, Viola won the league in 1984–85 and earned a promotion to the [[Lega Basket Serie A|Serie A]].
It was relegated after one season, returning in 1989 following a three-year stay in the Serie A2.
The newly promoted side had its best ever season for its return to the elite, finishing the regular season in seventh place before losing in the playoff quarterfinals to [[Pallacanestro Varese]], as Viola's [[Dan Caldwell]] finished as the league's top scorer.<ref name=StoriaViola>{{cite web |url=http://www.violareggiocalabria.it/storia/storia/storia-viola |title=Storia Viola |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=ViolaReggioCalabria.it |access-date=25 August 2015 |language=it |trans-title=Viola history}}</ref>


[[Carlo Recalcati]] took over the coaching reins the following season which ended in relegation. The club would bounce back by winning the Serie A2 in 1991–92. It would best its best finish with a sixth place in the 1992–93 Serie A, before a playoff quarterfinals series against [[Pallacanestro Treviso|Benetton Treviso]] ended with a disallowed on the buzzer shot that would have tied the game for Viola in the decisive 18 April game.
==Season 2009/2010==
The club made three other playoff appearances the next four seasons (quarterfinals in 1994 and eighth-finals in 1996 and 1997) with another of its players, [[Brian Oliver (basketball, born 1968)|Brian Oliver]], leading the league in scoring during the 1995–96 season.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:500px; height:200px;"
The Cestistica Piero Viola organisation would be declared bankrupt in December 1997 (a bankruptcy later revoked due to irregularities),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2008/gennaio/26/Viola_Reggio_Calabria_Fallimento_revocato_ga_10_080126117.shtml?refresh_ce-cp |title=Viola Reggio Calabria. Fallimento revocato |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=26 January 2008 |website=[[La Gazzetta dello Sport|Gazzetta]].it |access-date=25 August 2015 |language=it |trans-title=Viola Reggio Calabria. Bankruptcy revoked}}</ref> it was replaced in January 1998 by Basket Viola Reggio Calabria SPA and then by Nuovo Basket Viola Reggio '98 the same year.
|-
After a parenthesis in the Serie A2 in 1998–99, the club, counting a young [[Manu Ginóbili]] in its ranks, again reached the playoff quarterfinals though they were eliminated by [[Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna|Virtus Bologna]].<ref name=StoriaViola />
!Number
!Name
!Nationality
!Position
!Year
!Height <small>(cm)</small>
|-
|
|Massimo Di Lembo
|{{flagicon|Italy}}
|[[Playmaker]]
|1977
|180
|-
|
|Alessandro Michelon
|{{flagicon|Italy}}
|[[Playmaker|PM]]/[[Shooting guard|Guard]]
|1977
|188
|-
|
|Gabriele Niccolai
|{{flagicon|Italy}}
|[[Shooting guard|Guard]]/[[Small forward|SF]]
|1972
|192
|-
|
|Giuseppe D’Iapico
|{{flagicon|Italy}}
|[[Shooting guard|Guard]]
|1973
|190
|-
|
|Claudio Negri
|{{flagicon|Italy}}
|[[Shooting guard|Guard]]/[[Small forward|SF]]
|1985
|195
|-
|
|Luca Dalla Vecchia
|{{flagicon|Italy}}
|[[Power forward (basketball)|PF]]
|1978
|204
|-
|
|Marcelo Dip
|{{flagicon|Argentina}}{{flagicon|Italy}}
|[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|1984
|205
|-
|
|Vladimir Yasakov
|{{flagicon|Russia}}{{flagicon|Italy}}
|[[Power forward (basketball)|PF]]/[[Center (basketball)|Center]]
|1990
|200
|-
|'''Coach'''
|Massimo Bianchi
|{{flagicon|Italy}}
| -
|1955
| -
|-
|'''Ass.'''
|Gustavo Tolotti
|{{flagicon|Italy}}
| -
|1967
| -
|}


The next season saw Ginóbili leave but players such as [[Carlos Delfino]] and [[Leandro Palladino]] arrive to help Viola stave off relegation and reach the [[2000–01 FIBA Korać Cup]] Round of 16.<ref name=StoriaViola />
==History==
After battling relegation again in 2002, Viola returned to the playoffs the following year, with a repeat of the past as they again lost in five games to Benetton Treviso.
{| class="toccolours" style="margin: 0.5em auto; width: 100%; background:orange; text-align: left;"
Nuovo Basket Viola struggled to raise funds prior to the 2004–05 season, with only a last ditch cash injection by the municipality keeping the club, sponsor-less until March 2005,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legabasket.it/news/45449/reggio_calabria_ora_si_chiama_eurofiditalia |title=Reggio Calabria ora si chiama Eurofiditalia |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=17 March 2005 |website=[[Lega Basket Serie A|LegaBasket]].it |publisher=Viola Reggio Calabria |access-date=25 August 2015 |language=it |trans-title=Reggio Calabria is now called Eurofiditalia}}</ref> financially afloat.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legabasket.it/news/35918/il_comune_manda_in_campo_la_viola |title=Il Comune manda in campo la Viola |last=Gaeta |first=Piero |date=2 October 2004 |website=[[Lega Basket Serie A|LegaBasket]].it |publisher=[[Gazzetta del Sud]] |access-date=25 August 2015 |language=it |trans-title=The municipality helps send Viola on the court}}</ref>
|-
The club would finish in the relegation places in 2005 but kept its top flight status after [[Victoria Libertas Pesaro|Scavolini Pesaro]] folded. It was relegated in 2006, where three successive coaches could not stop the club from moving down to the LegaDue (the renamed second division).<ref name=StoriaViola />
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; background:orange;"| <span style="color:black;"> Cronistoria della Viola Basket Reggio Calabria</span>
Despite securing its LegaDue status on the court in 2007, Viola would see financial difficulties put an end to its professional activity over the summer, with the management unable to raise enough funds to keep the club running.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Sport_Vari/Basket/Italia/Primo_Piano/2007/07_Luglio/17/reggiocalabria_1707.shtml |title=Reggio, addio alla Viola. Lanciò Bryant e Ginobili |last=De Rosario |first=Luca |website=[[La Gazzetta dello Sport|Gazzetta]].it |access-date=25 August 2015 |language=it |trans-title=Reggio, farewell Viola. It launched [the careers of] Bryant and Ginobili}}</ref>
|-

|<div style="font-size:90%">
Viola continued operating only through its youth sector, with the team playing in the Serie D.<ref name=StoriaViola />
{|
On 7 July 2009, a new organisation acquired the sporting rights of Basket Gragnano and was admitted into the Serie B Dilettanti.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fip.it/public/57/3034/schemi%20%20istanze%20agosto%2009.pdf |title=Istanze agosto 2009 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=August 2009 |website=[[Federazione Italiana Pallacanestro|FIP]].it |access-date=25 August 2015 |language=it |trans-title=August 2009 Instances}}</ref>
|-
A change in ownership over the 2010 summer saw Giancesare Muscolino become president. The club would finish second during the regular season before losing in the promotion playoffs final to [[Orlandina Basket]]. The 2011–12 again saw the team stall in the promotion playoffs but it was admitted into the DNA anyway.
|valign="top"|
The club then successfully fought relegation the following two seasons and with the second and third tier merging in 2015–16, play in the second division as of the 2015–16 season.<ref name=StoriaViola />
*1966-1967: 9th place in Serie C

*1967-1968: 10th place in Serie C
==Arena==
*1968-1969: Serie C
[[File:Palacalafiore.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The PalaCalafiore]]
*1969-1970: 9th place in Serie C
At the beginning of the 1970s, the club transferred to the Scatolone arena, a small venue containing around 500 seats.
*1970-1971: Serie C
With the club promoted to the Serie A2 in 1983, the Scatolone did not answer the league's requirements, a new arena – the Botteghelle – was built over fifty-seven days.<ref name=StoriaViola />
*1971-1972: Serie C
In 1991 the PalaCalafiore (full name: Palasport Francesco Calafiore in dedication to a local sports journalist) was built; it is the biggest arena in Calabria and the seventh-largest in Italy, with more than 8,500 seats. Viola still plays in this arena (also known as the PalaPentimele, from the Pentimele neighbourhood it is situated in) as of the 2015–16 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.violareggiocalabria.it/palacalafiore/palacalafiore |title=Palacalafiore |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=ViolaReggioCalabria.it |access-date=25 August 2015 |language=it}}</ref>
*1972-1973: Serie C

*1973-1974: Serie C
==Head coaches==
*1974-1975: Serie B
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Tonino Zorzi]] <small>5 seasons: '87–'90, '95–'96, '01 (Jan.)-'02, '06 (Jan.-Mar.)</small>
*1975-1976: Serie B
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Carlo Recalcati]] <small>5 seasons: '90–'95</small>
*1976-1977: Serie B
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Lino Lardo]] <small>2 seasons: '02–'04</small>
*1977-1978: Serie B
*1978-1979: Serie B
*1979-1980: Serie B
*1980-1981: Serie B
*1981-1982: Serie B
*1982-1983: Serie B, promoted in [[LegaDue|Serie A2]]
*1983-1984: 9th place in [[LegaDue|Serie A2]]
*1984-1985: 1st place in [[LegaDue|Serie A2]], promoted in [[Serie A (basketball)|Serie A1]]
*1985-1986: 13th place in [[Serie A (basketball)|Serie A1]], relegated in [[LegaDue|Serie A2]]
*1986-1987: 9th place in [[LegaDue|Serie A2]]
*1987-1988: 6th place in [[LegaDue|Serie A2]]
*1988-1989: 1st place in [[LegaDue|Serie A2]], promoted in [[Serie A (basketball)|Serie A1]]
*1989-1990: 7th place in [[Serie A (basketball)|Serie A1]], lost at 1/4 final [[playoffs]] vs. [[Pallacanestro Varese]]
|valign="top"|
*1990-1991: 12th place in [[Serie A (basketball)|Serie A1]], relegated in [[LegaDue|Serie A2]]; lost at 1/16 final of [[Korać Cup]] vs. [[Panionios B.C.]]
*1991-1992: 1st place in [[LegaDue|Serie A2]], promoted in [[Serie A (basketball)|Serie A1]]
*1992-1993: 6th place in [[Serie A (basketball)|Serie A1]], lost at 1/4 final [[playoffs]] vs. [[Pallacanestro Treviso]]
*1993-1994: 7th place in [[Serie A (basketball)|Serie A1]], lost at 1/4 final [[playoffs]] vs. [[Victoria Libertas Pesaro]]; lost at 1/8 final of [[Korać Cup]] vs [[CB Estudiantes|Estudiantes Madrid]]
*1994-1995: 11th place in [[Serie A (basketball)|Serie A1]]
*1995-1996: 8th place in [[Serie A (basketball)|Serie A1]], lost at 1/8 final [[playoffs]] vs. [[Pistoia Basket 2000|Olimpia Pistoia]]
*1996-1997: 11th place in [[Serie A (basketball)|Serie A1]], lost at 1/8 final [[playoffs]] vs. [[Virtus Roma]]
*1997-1998: 14th place in [[Serie A (basketball)|Serie A1]], relegated in [[LegaDue|Serie A2]]
*1998-1999: 3rd place in [[LegaDue|Serie A2]], promoted in [[Serie A (basketball)|Serie A1]] after [[playoffs]]
*1999-2000: 7th place in [[Serie A (basketball)|Serie A1]], lost at 1/4 final [[playoffs]] vs. [[Virtus Bologna]]
*2000-2001: 14th place in [[Serie A (basketball)|Serie A1]], lost at 1/8 final of [[Korać Cup]] vs [[Ironi Ramat Gan|Maccabi Ironi Ramat Gan]]
*2001-2002: 16th place in [[Serie A (basketball)|Serie A]]
*2002-2003: 9th place in [[Serie A (basketball)|Serie A]], lost at 1/4 final [[playoffs]] vs. [[Pallacanestro Treviso]]
*2003-2004: 9th place in [[Serie A (basketball)|Serie A]]
*2004-2005: 17th place in [[Serie A (basketball)|Serie A]], relegated in [[LegaDue]], then promoted in [[Serie A (basketball)|Serie A]] due to bankrupt of [[Victoria Libertas Pesaro]]
*2005-2006: 18th place in [[Serie A (basketball)|Serie A]], relegated in [[LegaDue]]
*2006-2007: 14th place in [[LegaDue]]
*16 July 2007: failed to meet financial requirements to participate in the [[LegaDue]]
*2007-2009: not participating in any competition
*2009-2010: [[Serie B Dilettanti]]
|}
</div>
|}


==Sponsorship names==
==Coaches==
Throughout the years, due to sponsorship deals, it has been also known as:
{| class="toccolours" style="margin: 0.5em auto; width: 50%; background:orange; text-align: left;"
{{div col}}
|-
*'''Banca Popolare Reggio Calabria''' (1982–1984)
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; background:orange;"| <span style="color:black;"> All the coaches in the Viola Reggio Calabria history</span>
*Viola Reggio Calabria (1984–1985)
|-
*'''Opel Reggio Calabria''' (1985–1986)
|<div style="font-size:90%">
*Viola Reggio Calabria (1989–1990)
{|
*'''Standa Reggio Calabria''' (1986–1989)
|-
*'''Panasonic Reggio Calabria''' (1990–1993)
|valign="top"|
*'''Reggio Calabria Pfizer''' (1993–1995)
*1966-1967: Calafiore
*Viola Reggio Calabria (1995–2003)
*1967-1969: Dispenzieri
*'''Tris Reggio Calabria''' (2003–2004)
*1969-1972: Furfari
*'''Eurofiditalia Reggio Calabria''' (2005)
*1972-1976: Carmelo Fotia
*Viola Reggio Calabria (2005–2007)
*1976-1977: Massimo Moizo
*'''Liomatic Reggio Calabria''' (2009–2012)
*1977-1978: Vittorio Tracuzzi
*'''Bermè Viola Reggio Calabria''' (2015–present)
*1978-1980: Filippo Faina
{{div col end}}
*1980-1981: Enzo Porchi
*1981-1982: Vecchi
*1982-1986: Gianfranco Benvenuti
*1986-1987: Santi Puglisi
*1987-1990: Tonino Zorzi
*1990-1995: [[Carlo Recalcati]]
*1995-1996: Tonino Zorzi
*1996-2001: Gaetano Gebbia <small>(until 01/01/2001)</small>,
*<small>jan.</small>2001: Massimo Bianchi <small>(from 01/01/01 to 05/01/01)</small>
*<small>jan.</small>2001-2002: Tonino Zorzi
*2002-2004: Lino Lardo
*2004-2005: Alessandro Giuliani <small>(until 29/03/2005)</small>, Tonino Zorzi
*2005-2006: Walter De Raffaele <small>(until 21/12/2005)</small>, Pasquale Iracà <small>(from 21/12/2005 to 03/01/2006 and from 13/03/2006)</small>, Tonino Zorzi <small>(from 03/01/2006 to 13/03/2006)</small>
*2006-2007: Paolo Moretti
*2009- Massimo Bianchi
|}
</div>
|}
</div>


==Sponsorships==
==Notable players==
{{col-begin|width=auto}}
*1982-1984 [[File:Arrow green2 en.svg]] '''Banca Popolare'''
{{col-break}}
*1985/1986 [[File:Arrow green2 en.svg]] '''[[Opel]]'''
'''2000's'''
*1986-1989 [[File:Arrow green2 en.svg]] '''[[Standa]]'''
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Joseph Bunn]] <small>1 season: '06–'07</small>
*1990-1993 [[File:Arrow green2 en.svg]] '''[[Panasonic]]'''
* {{flagicon|SVN}} [[Aleksandar Ćapin]] <small>1 season: '05–'06</small>
*1993-1995 [[File:Arrow green2 en.svg]] '''[[Pfizer]]'''
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[A. J. Guyton]] <small>1 season: '05–'06</small>
*2003/2004 [[File:Arrow green2 en.svg]] '''Tris'''
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jelani McCoy]] <small>1 season: '05–'06</small>
*2004/2005 [[File:Arrow green2 en.svg]] '''Eurofiditalia'''
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Vincent Yarbrough]] <small>1 season: '05–'06</small>
*2009/2010 [[File:Arrow green2 en.svg]] '''Liomatic'''
* {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Thierry Zig]] <small>1 season: '05–'06</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Bryce Drew]] <small>1 season: '04–'05</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Terrence Rencher]] <small>1 season: '04–'05</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Casey Shaw]] <small>1 season: '04–'05</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[LaVell Blanchard]] <small>2 seasons: '03–'05</small>
* {{flagicon|GRE}} [[Giorgos Sigalas]] <small>{{frac|1|2}} season: '03</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Titus Ivory]] <small>2 seasons: '02–'04</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Anthony Williams (basketball)|Anthony Williams]] <small>3 seasons: '01–'03, '06–'07</small>
* {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Ismaila Sy]] <small>2 seasons: '01–'02, '06–'07</small>
* {{flagicon|URU}} [[Nicolás Mazzarino]] <small>4 seasons: '01–'05</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[J. J. Eubanks]] <small>3 seasons: '01–'04</small>
* {{flagicon|NGR}} [[Benjamin Eze]] <small>3 seasons: '01–'04</small>
* {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Alan Tomidy]] <small>2 seasons: '01–'03</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Brian Evans (basketball)|Brian Evans]] <small>1 season: '01–'02</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Anthony Tucker (basketball)|Anthony Tucker]] <small>1 season: '01–'02</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[David Vaughn III|David Vaughn]] <small>1 season: '01–'02</small>
* {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Carlos Delfino]] <small>2 seasons: '00–'02</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Mark Anthony Davis]] <small>1 season: '00–'01</small>
* {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Thierry Gadou]] <small>1 season: '00–'01</small>
* {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Leandro Palladino]] <small>1 season: '00–'01</small>
{{col-break}}
'''1990's'''
* {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Alejandro Montecchia]] <small>3 seasons: '99–'02</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Brian Shorter]] <small>1 season: '99–'00</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Kevin Thompson (basketball)|Kevin Thompson]] <small>1 season: '99–'00</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Brent Scott (basketball)|Brent Scott]] <small>2 seasons: '98–'99, '00–'01</small>
* {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Manu Ginóbili]] <small>2 seasons: '98–'00</small>
* {{flagicon|POL}} [[Jeff Nordgaard]] <small>1 season: '98–'99</small>
* {{flagicon|GER}} [[Christian Welp]] <small>1 season: '98–'99</small>
* {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Jay Larrañaga]] <small>2 seasons: '97–'98, '04–'05</small>
* {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Diego Fajardo]] <small>2 seasons: '97–'98, '03–'04</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Dedric Willoughby]] <small>1 seasons: '97–'98</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Brian Oliver (basketball, born 1968)|Brian Oliver]] <small>3 seasons: '96–'97, '98–'00</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Mike Brown (basketball player)|Mike Brown]] <small>2 seasons: '96–'98</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Lance Miller (basketball)|Lance Miller]] <small>1 season: '95–'96</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Yamen Sanders]] <small>1 season: '95–'96</small>
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Alessandro Fantozzi]] <small>1 season: '94–'95</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Shaun Vandiver]] <small>1 season: '94–'95</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Randy White (basketball)|Randy White]] <small>1 season: '94–'95</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Wendell Alexis]] <small>1 season: '94–'95</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Ken Barlow (basketball)|Ken Barlow]] <small>1 season: '93–'94</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Kevin Pritchard]] <small>1 season: '93–'94</small>
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Marco Spangaro]] <small>4 seasons: '92–'96</small>
* {{flagicon|UKR}} [[Alexander Volkov (basketball)|Sasha Volkov]] <small>1 season: '92–'93</small>
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Tiziano Lorenzon]] <small>2 seasons: '91–'93</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Dean Garrett]] <small>3 seasons: '90–'93</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Michael Young (basketball, born 1961)|Michael Young]] <small>2 seasons: '90–'92</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Frank Kornet]] <small>1 season: '93</small>
{{col-break}}
'''1980's'''
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Roberto Bullara]] <small>7 seasons: '89–'96</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Charles Jones (basketball, born 1962)|Charles Jones]] <small>1 season: '89–'90</small>
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Alessandro Santoro]] <small>12 seasons: '88–'00</small>
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Giampiero Savio]] <small>2 seasons: '88–'90</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Rob Lock|Robert Lock]] <small>1 season: '88–'89</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Phil Zevenbergen]] <small>1 season: '88–'89</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Dan Caldwell (basketball)|Dan Caldwell]] <small>4 seasons: '87–'91</small>
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Gustavo Tolotti]] <small>12 seasons: '86–'92, '93–'99</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Joe Bryant]] <small>1 season: '86–'87</small>
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Donato Avenia]] <small>9 seasons: '84–'90, '92–'93, '96–'98</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Kim Hughes (basketball)|Kim Hughes]] <small>5 seasons: '83–'88</small>
{{col-end}}


==Rankings==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:500px; height:200px;"
|-
| style="background:orange;"|'''Leader in [[Cap (sport)|caps]]'''
| style="background:orange;"|'''Caps'''
|- style="background:#cfffdf;"
||'''[[Gustavo Tolotti]]'''
||'''379'''
|- style="background:orange;"
||'''More seasons in Viola RC'''
||'''Seasons'''
|- style="background:#cfffdf;"
||'''[[Gustavo Tolotti]], [[Alessandro Santoro]]'''
||'''12'''
|- style="background:orange;"
||'''Top scorer in a single game'''
||'''Points'''
|-
| style="background:#cfffdf;"|'''[[Joe Bryant]]''' <small>09/11/1986 ([[LegaDue|Serie A2]], Facar PE - Standa RC 102-110)</small>
| style="background:#cfffdf;"|'''69'''
|- style="background:orange;"
||'''Top scorer ever'''
||'''Points'''
|-
| style="background:#cfffdf;"|'''[[Dan Caldwell (basketball)|Dan Caldwell]]'''
| style="background:#cfffdf;"|'''3695'''
|- style="background:orange;"
||'''Top rebounder ever'''
||'''Rebounds'''
|-
| style="background:#cfffdf;"|'''[[Kim Hughes (basketball)|Kim Hughes]]'''
| style="background:#cfffdf;"|'''1897'''
|-
| style="background:orange;"|'''Top scorer of [[Serie A (basketball)|''Serie A'']]'''
| style="background:orange;"|'''Season'''
|-
| style="background:#cfffdf;"|'''[[Dan Caldwell (basketball)|Dan Caldwell]]'''
| style="background:#cfffdf;"|'''1989/90''' <small>(918 points)</small>
|- style="background:#cfffdf;"
||'''[[Brian Oliver]]'''
||'''1996/97''' <small>(735 points)</small>
|}


==External links==
== Notable players ==
*[http://web.legabasket.it/team/1109/viola_r_calabria/storia Serie A historical results] {{in lang|it}} Retrieved 25 August 2015
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Kim Hughes (basketball)|Kim Hughes]] <small>5 seasons: '83-'88</small>
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Donato Avenia]] <small>9 seasons: '84-'90, '92-'93, '96-'98</small>
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Gustavo Tolotti]] <small>12 seasons: '86-'92, '93-'99</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Joe Bryant]] <small>1 season: '86-'87</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Dan Caldwell (basketball)|Dan Caldwell]] <small>4 seasons: '87-'91</small>
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Alessandro Santoro]] <small>12 seasons: '88-'00</small>
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Giampiero Savio]] <small>2 seasons: '88-'90</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Rob Lock|Robert Lock]] <small>1 season: '88-'89</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Phil Zevenbergen]] <small>1 season: '88-'89</small>
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Roberto Bullara]] <small>7 seasons: '89-'96</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Charles Jones (basketball, born 1962)|Charles Jones]] <small>1 season: '89-'90</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Dean Garrett]] <small>3 seasons: '90-'93</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Michael Young (basketball)|Michael Young]] <small>2 seasons: '90-'92</small>
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Tiziano Lorenzon]] <small>2 seasons: '91-'93</small>
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Marco Spangaro]] <small>4 seasons: '92-'96</small>
* {{flagicon|UKR}} [[Alexander Volkov (basketball)|Alexander Volkov]] <small>1 season: '92-'93</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Ken Barlow (basketball)|Ken Barlow]] <small>1 season: '93-'94</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Kevin Pritchard]] <small>1 season: '93-'94</small>
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Alessandro Fantozzi]] <small>1 season: '94-'95</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Shaun Vandiver]] <small>1 season: '94-'95</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Randy White (basketball)|Randy White]] <small>1 season: '94-'95</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Wendell Alexis]] <small>1 season: '94-'95</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Lance Miller (basketball)|Lance Miller]] <small>1 season: '95-'96</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Yamen Sanders]] <small>1 season: '95-'96</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Brian Oliver]] <small>3 seasons: '96-'97, '98-'00</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Mike Brown (basketball player)|Mike Brown]] <small>2 seasons: '96-'98</small>
* {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Diego Fajardo]] <small>2 seasons: '97-'98, '03-'04</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} {{flagicon|IRL}} Jay Larranaga, son of [[Jim Larranaga]] <small>2 seasons: '97-'98, '04-'05</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Dedric Willoughby]] <small>1 seasons: '97-'98</small>
* {{flagicon|ARG}} {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Manu Ginóbili]] <small>2 seasons: '98-'00</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Brent Scott]] <small>2 seasons: '98-'99, '00-'01</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} {{flagicon|POL}} [[Jeff Nordgaard]] <small>1 season: '98-'99</small>
* {{flagicon|GER}} [[Christian Welp]] <small>1 season: '98-'99</small>
* {{flagicon|ARG}} {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Alejandro Montecchia]] <small>3 seasons: '99-'02</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Brian Shorter]] <small>1 season: '99-'00</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Kevin Thompson (basketball)|Kevin Thompson]] <small>1 season: '99-'00</small>
* {{flagicon|ARG}} {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Carlos Delfino]] <small>2 seasons: '00-'02</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Mark Anthony Davis]] <small>1 season: '00-'01</small>
* {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Thierry Gadou]] <small>1 season: '00-'01</small>
* {{flagicon|ARG}} {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Leandro Palladino]] <small>1 season: '00-'01</small>
* {{flagicon|URU}} {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Nicolás Mazzarino]] <small>4 seasons: '01-'05</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[John Eubanks (basketball)|John Eubanks]] <small>3 seasons: '01-'04</small>
* {{flagicon|NGR}} {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Benjamin Eze]] <small>3 seasons: '01-'04</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Anthony Williams (basketball)|Anthony Williams]] <small>3 seasons: '01-'03, '06-'07</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Alan Tomidy]] <small>2 seasons: '01-'03</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Brian Evans (basketball)|Brian Evans]] <small>1 season: '01-'02</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Anthony Tucker]] <small>1 season: '01-'02</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[David Vaughn III|David Vaughn]] <small>1 season: '01-'02</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Titus Ivory]] <small>2 seasons: '02-'04</small>
* {{flagicon|Greece}} [[Giorgos Sigalas]] <small>1 season: '03</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[LaVell Blanchard]] <small>2 seasons: '03-'05</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Bryce Drew]] <small>1 season: '04-'05</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Terrence Rencher]] <small>1 season: '04-'05</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Casey Shaw]] <small>1 season: '04-'05</small>
* {{flagicon|BIH}} {{flagicon|SVN}} [[Aleksandar Ćapin]] <small>1 season: '05-'06</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[A. J. Guyton]] <small>1 season: '05-'06</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jelani McCoy]] <small>1 season: '05-'06</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Vincent Yarbrough]] <small>1 season: '05-'06</small>
* {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Ismaila Sy]] <small>2 seasons: '01-'02 & '06-'07</small>
* {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Thierry Zig]] <small>1 season: '05-'06</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Joseph Bunn]] <small>1 season: '06-'07</small>
* {{flagicon|ARG}} {{flagicon|ITA}} [[German Sciutto]] <small>1 season: '06-'07</small>


{{Basketball in Italy}}
{{Serie A2 Basket}}


[[Category:1966 establishments in Italy]]
[[Category:Basketball teams established in 1966]]
[[Category:Basketball teams in Italy]]
[[Category:Basketball teams in Italy]]

Latest revision as of 21:32, 20 February 2023

Viola Reggio Calabria
Viola Reggio Calabria logo
NicknameNero-Arancio (The Black and Oranges)
Founded1966 (refounded 1997, 2009)
History
List
    • Cestistica Piero Viola
      (1966–1997)
    • Basket Viola R.C.
      (1998)
    • Nuovo Basket Viola Reggio '98
      (1998–2007)
    • Team Basket Viola R.C.
      (2007–2009)
    • Scuola Basket Viola R.C.
      (2009–2012)
    • Viola Reggio Calabria
      (2012–2019)
ArenaPalaCalafiore
Capacity8,500
LocationReggio Calabria, Calabria, Italy
Team colorsBlack and Orange
   
Championships3 Serie A2 Championships
Websiteviola.rc.it

Viola Reggio Calabria was an Italian professional basketball club based in Reggio Calabria, Calabria.

At its heyday the club was renowned for discovering talented players who would go on to play at the highest level, for example five former players took part in the 2004 Olympics final. However, Viola was also plagued by financial problems, with the club filing for bankruptcy in three occasions (1997, 2009 and 2019), that later sent it out the Italian elite.

In 2019 a phoenix club, called Viola Supporters Trust, was formed by the fans of Viola Reggio Calabria. It currently plays in Serie C Silver Calabria, the fifth tier of the Italian pyramid.

History[edit]

The club was founded in 1966 as Cestistica Piero Viola by judge Peppino Viola in honour of his late brother Piero. It started playing in the Serie C that season, replacing AICS Reggio Calabria where Piero Viola had played at that level, finishing ninth. The club would establish itself in the Serie C (renamed Serie B from 1974–75) during the succeeding years. It would reach the professional second division Serie A2 in 1983. After a mid-table finish in its first season, Viola won the league in 1984–85 and earned a promotion to the Serie A. It was relegated after one season, returning in 1989 following a three-year stay in the Serie A2. The newly promoted side had its best ever season for its return to the elite, finishing the regular season in seventh place before losing in the playoff quarterfinals to Pallacanestro Varese, as Viola's Dan Caldwell finished as the league's top scorer.[1]

Carlo Recalcati took over the coaching reins the following season which ended in relegation. The club would bounce back by winning the Serie A2 in 1991–92. It would best its best finish with a sixth place in the 1992–93 Serie A, before a playoff quarterfinals series against Benetton Treviso ended with a disallowed on the buzzer shot that would have tied the game for Viola in the decisive 18 April game. The club made three other playoff appearances the next four seasons (quarterfinals in 1994 and eighth-finals in 1996 and 1997) with another of its players, Brian Oliver, leading the league in scoring during the 1995–96 season. The Cestistica Piero Viola organisation would be declared bankrupt in December 1997 (a bankruptcy later revoked due to irregularities),[2] it was replaced in January 1998 by Basket Viola Reggio Calabria SPA and then by Nuovo Basket Viola Reggio '98 the same year. After a parenthesis in the Serie A2 in 1998–99, the club, counting a young Manu Ginóbili in its ranks, again reached the playoff quarterfinals though they were eliminated by Virtus Bologna.[1]

The next season saw Ginóbili leave but players such as Carlos Delfino and Leandro Palladino arrive to help Viola stave off relegation and reach the 2000–01 FIBA Korać Cup Round of 16.[1] After battling relegation again in 2002, Viola returned to the playoffs the following year, with a repeat of the past as they again lost in five games to Benetton Treviso. Nuovo Basket Viola struggled to raise funds prior to the 2004–05 season, with only a last ditch cash injection by the municipality keeping the club, sponsor-less until March 2005,[3] financially afloat.[4] The club would finish in the relegation places in 2005 but kept its top flight status after Scavolini Pesaro folded. It was relegated in 2006, where three successive coaches could not stop the club from moving down to the LegaDue (the renamed second division).[1] Despite securing its LegaDue status on the court in 2007, Viola would see financial difficulties put an end to its professional activity over the summer, with the management unable to raise enough funds to keep the club running.[5]

Viola continued operating only through its youth sector, with the team playing in the Serie D.[1] On 7 July 2009, a new organisation acquired the sporting rights of Basket Gragnano and was admitted into the Serie B Dilettanti.[6] A change in ownership over the 2010 summer saw Giancesare Muscolino become president. The club would finish second during the regular season before losing in the promotion playoffs final to Orlandina Basket. The 2011–12 again saw the team stall in the promotion playoffs but it was admitted into the DNA anyway. The club then successfully fought relegation the following two seasons and with the second and third tier merging in 2015–16, play in the second division as of the 2015–16 season.[1]

Arena[edit]

The PalaCalafiore

At the beginning of the 1970s, the club transferred to the Scatolone arena, a small venue containing around 500 seats. With the club promoted to the Serie A2 in 1983, the Scatolone did not answer the league's requirements, a new arena – the Botteghelle – was built over fifty-seven days.[1] In 1991 the PalaCalafiore (full name: Palasport Francesco Calafiore in dedication to a local sports journalist) was built; it is the biggest arena in Calabria and the seventh-largest in Italy, with more than 8,500 seats. Viola still plays in this arena (also known as the PalaPentimele, from the Pentimele neighbourhood it is situated in) as of the 2015–16 season.[7]

Head coaches[edit]

Sponsorship names[edit]

Throughout the years, due to sponsorship deals, it has been also known as:

  • Banca Popolare Reggio Calabria (1982–1984)
  • Viola Reggio Calabria (1984–1985)
  • Opel Reggio Calabria (1985–1986)
  • Viola Reggio Calabria (1989–1990)
  • Standa Reggio Calabria (1986–1989)
  • Panasonic Reggio Calabria (1990–1993)
  • Reggio Calabria Pfizer (1993–1995)
  • Viola Reggio Calabria (1995–2003)
  • Tris Reggio Calabria (2003–2004)
  • Eurofiditalia Reggio Calabria (2005)
  • Viola Reggio Calabria (2005–2007)
  • Liomatic Reggio Calabria (2009–2012)
  • Bermè Viola Reggio Calabria (2015–present)

Notable players[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Storia Viola" [Viola history]. ViolaReggioCalabria.it (in Italian). Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  2. ^ "Viola Reggio Calabria. Fallimento revocato" [Viola Reggio Calabria. Bankruptcy revoked]. Gazzetta.it (in Italian). 26 January 2008. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  3. ^ "Reggio Calabria ora si chiama Eurofiditalia" [Reggio Calabria is now called Eurofiditalia]. LegaBasket.it (in Italian). Viola Reggio Calabria. 17 March 2005. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  4. ^ Gaeta, Piero (2 October 2004). "Il Comune manda in campo la Viola" [The municipality helps send Viola on the court]. LegaBasket.it (in Italian). Gazzetta del Sud. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  5. ^ De Rosario, Luca. "Reggio, addio alla Viola. Lanciò Bryant e Ginobili" [Reggio, farewell Viola. It launched [the careers of] Bryant and Ginobili]. Gazzetta.it (in Italian). Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  6. ^ "Istanze agosto 2009" [August 2009 Instances] (PDF). FIP.it (in Italian). August 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  7. ^ "Palacalafiore". ViolaReggioCalabria.it (in Italian). Retrieved 25 August 2015.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Viola_Reggio_Calabria&oldid=1140603083"