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| logo =
| logo =
| imagesize =
| imagesize =
| nickname = <small>''i Nero-Arancio''(the black and oranges)</small>
| nickname = <small>''i Nero-Arancio'' (the black and oranges)</small>
| leagues = [[Serie A2 Basket|Serie A2]]
| leagues = [[Serie A2 Basket|Serie A2]]
| founded = 1966
| founded = 1966
| 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)
| history = '''Cestistica Piero Viola''' <br>1966-1997<br>'''Basket Viola {{Tooltip|R.C.|Reggio Calabria}}'''<br>1998(Jan.-?)<br>'''Nuovo Basket Viola Reggio '98'''<br>1998-2007<br>'''Team Basket Viola {{Tooltip|R.C.|Reggio Calabria}}'''<br>2007-2009<br>'''Scuola Basket Viola {{Tooltip|R.C.|Reggio Calabria}}'''<br>2009-2012<br>'''Viola Reggio Calabria'''<br>2012-present
| arena = [[PalaCalafiore|PalaPentimele]]<br>(~ 8,500 seats)
| arena = [[PalaCalafiore]]
| capactiy = c. 8,500/9,000 seats
| location = [[Reggio Calabria|Reggio Calabria (RC)]], [[Italy]]
| location = [[Reggio Calabria]], [[Calabria]], [[Italy]]
| colors = Black and Orange<br>{{color box|black}} {{color box|orange}}
| colors = Black and Orange {{color box|black}} {{color box|orange}}
| president =
| president = Giusva Branca
| coach = {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Massimo Bianchi]]
| coach = {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Giovanni Benedetto]]
| championships = '''<small>3 [[Serie A2 Basket|Serie A2]]'''<br />1984/85, 1988/89, 1991/92</small>
| championships = '''<small>3 [[Serie A2 Basket|Serie A2]]'''<br><small>1984–85, 1988–89, 1991–92</small>
| website = [http://www.violareggiocalabria.it/ violareggiocalabria.it]
| website = [http://www.violareggiocalabria.it/ ViolaReggioCalabria.it] {{it icon}}
| 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''' is an Italian professional [[basketball]] club based in [[Reggio Calabria]].
'''Viola Reggio Calabria''', known for sponsorship reasons as '''Bermè Viola Reggio Calabria''', is 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 twice declaring bankruptcy, that later sent it out the Italian elite.
==History==
The team's name is derived from Cestistica Piero Viola, a basketball team founded in 1966 by judge Giuseppe Viola which folded in 1997.
Another Reggio Calabria side iwas Basket Viola Reggio Calabria created in 1997, it went went bankrupt in late 2007.


It plays in the second division [[Serie A2 Basket|Serie A2]] as of the 2015-16 season.
Team Basket Viola was founded in 2009, starting from fourth-division Serie B Dilettanti.


==History==
==History==
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.
{| class="toccolours" style="margin: 0.5em auto; width: 100%; text-align: left;"
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]].
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center;| <span style="color:black;"> Viola Basket Reggio Calabria chronological history</span>
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=Italian |trans-title=Viola history}}</ref>
|<div style="font-size:90%">
{|
|-
|valign="top"|
*1966-1967: 9th place in Serie C
*1967-1968: 10th place in Serie C
*1968-1969: Serie C
*1969-1970: 9th place in Serie C
*1970-1971: Serie C
*1971-1972: Serie C
*1972-1973: Serie C
*1973-1974: Serie C
*1974-1975: Serie B
*1975-1976: Serie B
*1976-1977: Serie B
*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>
|}


[[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 won the game for Viola in the decisive 18 April game.
==Coaches==
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 banruptcy 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=Italian |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.
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
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 />
|
*1966-1967: Calafiore
*1967-1969: Dispenzieri
*1969-1972: Furfari
*1972-1976: Carmelo Fotia
*1976-1977: Massimo Moizo
*1977-1978: Vittorio Tracuzzi
*1978-1980: Filippo Faina
|
*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 (Jan.): Gaetano Gebbia
|
*2001 (Jan.): Massimo Bianchi
*2001 (Jan.)-2002: Tonino Zorzi
*2002-2004: Lino Lardo
*2004-2005 (Mar.): Alessandro Giuliani, Tonino Zorzi
*2005 (Mar.- Dec.): Walter De Raffaele
*2005 (Dec.)-2006 (Jan.): Pasquale Iracà
*2006 (Jan. - Mar.) Tonino Zorzi
*2006 (Mar.) -2007: Paolo Moretti
*2009-? Massimo Bianchi
|}


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 />
==Sponsorship names==
After battling relegation again in 2002, Viola returned to the playoffs the following year, with a repeat of the past of they again lost in five games to Benetton Treviso.
*'''Banca Popolare''' (1982-1984)
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=Italian |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=Italian |trans-title=The municipality helps send Viola on the court}}</ref>
*'''[[Opel]]''' (1985/1986)
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 />
*'''[[Standa]]''' (1986-1989)
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 |date= |website=[[La Gazzetta dello Sport|Gazzetta]].it |access-date=25 August 2015 |language=Italian |trans-title=Reggio, farewell Viola. It launched [the careers of] Bryant and Ginobili}}</ref>
*'''[[Panasonic]]''' (1990-1993)
*'''[[Pfizer]]''' (1993-1995)
*'''Tris''' (2003-2004)
*'''Eurofiditalia''' (2004-2005)
*'''Liomatic''' (2009-2010)


Viola continued operating only through its youth sector, with the team playing in the Serie D.<ref name=StoriaViola />
==Rankings==
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=Italian |trans-title=August 2009 Instances}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:500px; height:200px;"
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.<ref name=StoriaViola />
| '''Leader in [[Cap (sport)|caps]]'''
| '''Caps'''
|-
||'''[[Gustavo Tolotti]]'''
||'''379'''
|-
||'''Most seasons in Viola RC'''
||'''Seasons'''
|-
||'''[[Gustavo Tolotti]], [[Alessandro Santoro]]'''
||'''12'''
|-
||'''Single game individual scorer'''
||'''Points'''
|-
| '''[[Joe Bryant]]''' <small>09/11/1986 ([[LegaDue|Serie A2]], Facar PE - Standa RC 102-110)</small>
| '''69'''
|
||'''All-time top scorer'''
||'''Points'''
|-
| '''[[Dan Caldwell (basketball)|Dan Caldwell]]'''
| '''3695'''
|
||'''All-time top rebounder'''
||'''Rebounds'''
|-
| '''[[Kim Hughes (basketball)|Kim Hughes]]'''
| '''1897'''
|-
| '''All-time [[Lega Basket Serie A|Serie A]] top scorer'''
| '''Season'''
|-
| '''[[Dan Caldwell (basketball)|Dan Caldwell]]'''
| '''1989/90''' <small>(918 points)</small>
|-
||'''[[Brian Oliver (basketball, born 1968)|Brian Oliver]]'''
||'''1996/97''' <small>(735 points)</small>
|}


==Arena==
== Notable players ==
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.<ref name=StoriaViola />
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
In 1991 the PalaCalafiore (full name: Palasport Francesco Calafiore in dedication to local sports journalist) was built, it is biggest arena in Calabria and the seventh biggest 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=Italian}}</ref>
|

* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Kim Hughes (basketball)|Kim Hughes]] <small>5 seasons: '83-'88</small>
==Notable coaches==
* {{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|ITA}} [[Tonino Zorzi]] <small>5 seasons: '87-'90, '95-'96, '01 (Jan.)-'02, '06 (Jan.-Mar.)</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Joe Bryant]] <small>1 season: '86-'87</small>
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Carlo Recalcati]] <small>5 seasons: '90-'95</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Dan Caldwell (basketball)|Dan Caldwell]] <small>4 seasons: '87-'91</small>
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Lino Lardo]] <small>2 seasons: '02-'04</small>

* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Alessandro Santoro]] <small>12 seasons: '88-'00</small>
==Sponsoship names==
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Giampiero Savio]] <small>2 seasons: '88-'90</small>
Throughout the years, due to sponsorship deals, it has been also known as:
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Rob Lock|Robert Lock]] <small>1 season: '88-'89</small>
{{colbegin|2}}
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Phil Zevenbergen]] <small>1 season: '88-'89</small>
*'''Banca Popolare Reggio Calabria''' (1982-1984)
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Roberto Bullara]] <small>7 seasons: '89-'96</small>
*Viola Reggio Calabria (1984-1985)
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Charles Jones (basketball, born 1962)|Charles Jones]] <small>1 season: '89-'90</small>
*'''Opel Reggio Calabria''' (1985-1986)
|
*Viola Reggio Calabria (1989-1990)
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Dean Garrett]] <small>3 seasons: '90-'93</small>
*'''Standa Reggio Calabria''' (1986-1989)
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Michael Young (basketball)|Michael Young]] <small>2 seasons: '90-'92</small>
*'''Panasonic Reggio Calabria''' (1990-1993)
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Tiziano Lorenzon]] <small>2 seasons: '91-'93</small>
*'''Reggio Calabria Pfizer''' (1993-1995)
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Marco Spangaro]] <small>4 seasons: '92-'96</small>
*Viola Reggio Calabria (1995-2003)
* {{flagicon|UKR}} [[Alexander Volkov (basketball)|Alexander Volkov]] <small>1 season: '92-'93</small>
*'''Tris Reggio Calabria''' (2003-2004)
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Ken Barlow (basketball)|Ken Barlow]] <small>1 season: '93-'94</small>
*'''Eurofiditalia Reggio Calabria''' (2005)
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Kevin Pritchard]] <small>1 season: '93-'94</small>
*Viola Reggio Calabria (2005-2007)
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Alessandro Fantozzi]] <small>1 season: '94-'95</small>
*'''Liomatic Reggio Calabria''' (2009-2012)
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Shaun Vandiver]] <small>1 season: '94-'95</small>
*'''Bermè Viola Reggio Calabria''' (2015–present)
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Randy White (basketball)|Randy White]] <small>1 season: '94-'95</small>
{{colend}}
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Wendell Alexis]] <small>1 season: '94-'95</small>

* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Lance Miller (basketball)|Lance Miller]] <small>1 season: '95-'96</small>
==Notable players==
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Yamen Sanders]] <small>1 season: '95-'96</small>
{{col-begin|width=auto}}
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Brian Oliver (basketball, born 1968)|Brian Oliver]] <small>3 seasons: '96-'97, '98-'00</small>
{{col-break}}
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Mike Brown (basketball player)|Mike Brown]] <small>2 seasons: '96-'98</small>
'''2000's'''
* {{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}} [[Joseph Bunn]] <small>1 season: '06-'07</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Dedric Willoughby]] <small>1 seasons: '97-'98</small>
* {{flagicon|SVN}} [[Aleksandar Ćapin]] <small>1 season: '05-'06</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}} [[A. J. Guyton]] <small>1 season: '05-'06</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jelani McCoy]] <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|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|FRA}} [[Thierry Zig]] <small>1 season: '05-'06</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Joseph Bunn]] <small>1 season: '06-'07</small>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Bryce Drew]] <small>1 season: '04-'05</small>
* {{flagicon|ARG}} {{flagicon|ITA}} [[German Sciutto]] <small>1 season: '06-'07</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>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}} [[John Eubanks (basketball)|John 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]] <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]] <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 Larranaga]] <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)|Alexander 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)|Michael Young]] <small>2 seasons: '90-'92</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}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://web.legabasket.it/team/1109/viola_r_calabria/storia Serie A historical results] {{it icon}} Retrieved 25 August 2015


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


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

Revision as of 13:21, 25 August 2015

Viola Reggio Calabria
Nicknamei Nero-Arancio (the black and oranges)
LeaguesSerie A2
Founded1966
HistoryCestistica Piero Viola
1966-1997
Basket Viola R.C.
1998(Jan.-?)
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-present
ArenaPalaCalafiore
LocationReggio Calabria, Calabria, Italy
Team colorsBlack and Orange    
PresidentGiusva Branca
Head coachItaly Giovanni Benedetto
Championships3 Serie A2
1984–85, 1988–89, 1991–92
WebsiteViolaReggioCalabria.it Template:It icon

Viola Reggio Calabria, known for sponsorship reasons as Bermè Viola Reggio Calabria, is 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 twice declaring bankruptcy, that later sent it out the Italian elite.

It plays in the second division Serie A2 as of the 2015-16 season.

History

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 won 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 banruptcy 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 of 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

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 local sports journalist) was built, it is biggest arena in Calabria and the seventh biggest 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]

Notable coaches

Sponsoship names

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

References

  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

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Viola_Reggio_Calabria&oldid=677779846"