Universo Treviso Basket
Italian basketball club founded 2012, LBA since 2019.
Universo Treviso Basket, often shortened to TvB and currently known as NutriBullet Treviso for sponsorship reasons, is an Italian professional basketball club from Treviso, Veneto. Founded in 2012, the team has competed in the top-tier Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) since the 2019–20 season. Although it is a separate entity, Universo Treviso effectively took over the fan base of Pallacanestro Treviso, the city’s historic club.
The club’s origins trace back to March 2012, when the Universo Treviso consortium was formed to keep professional basketball alive in the city after the Benetton family announced it would stop backing Benetton Treviso in July 2012. Former players, led by Riccardo Pittis as guarantor, drove the initiative. Despite financial hurdles, Pittis, Claudio Coldebella, and Paolo Vazzoler—who became president—secured enough funding from five local businessmen and 67 consortium firms to create a new club on 4 July 2012. The managing company, Treviso Basket s.r.l., received Benetton Treviso’s sporting rights for free, though Benetton had already withdrawn from Serie A to become a youth club. However, the Italian Basketball Federation (FIP) rejected Treviso Basket’s application to join Serie A, a decision upheld by the Federal Court on 2 August 2012. FIP president Dino Meneghin argued that admitting the new organization would violate league rules and set an unsustainable precedent, also criticizing the lack of action after Benetton’s announcement and the failure to merge the two entities.
The club grew slowly, winning the amateur Promozione (seventh division) with help from Benetton Treviso, which transferred its Under 19 squad and personnel. Treviso Basket earned promotion to Serie D by winning the 2012–13 playoff championship. That season ended with a wild card for National Division B, the fourth tier. Treviso finished fourth in its group but was eliminated in the first playoff round by APU Udine.
In 2014, after buying the sporting rights of B.N.B. Corato, Treviso moved to Serie A2 Silver, the nominal third division, which soon merged with the second division, Serie A2 Gold. The club changed its name to Universo Treviso Basket. It finished first in the Serie A2 Silver regular season but lost in the first round of the combined playoffs. The 2015–16 season saw Treviso win the Eastern group of Serie A2 under head coach Massimiliano Menetti, earning pro
- head_coach_as_of_2025
- Francesco Vitucci
Lore & Background
Following the Benetton family's planned withdrawal from professional basketball in July 2012, the Universo Treviso consortium was launched in March 2012 to assure the club's continued presence. Former players, led by Riccardo Pittis, were at the basis of the initiative. After economic struggles, the consortium obtained enough funding to create a new club on 4 July 2012, thanks to five local businessmen and sixty-seven firms. The new company, Treviso Basket s.r.l., was given Benetton Treviso's sporting rights for free, though the latter had withdrawn from Serie A to apply for amateur leagues. However, the Italian Basketball Federation refused Treviso Basket's application to join Serie A, a decision upheld on 2 August 2012, citing league rules and legal precedent.
The club grew slowly, winning the amateur Promozione (seventh division) with support from Benetton Treviso, which transferred its Under 19 squad and personnel. Treviso Basket earned promotion to Serie D by winning the 2012–13 playoffs. At the end of the 2015–16 season, the club earned promotion to Serie A after a dramatic playoff run, led by head coach Massimiliano Menetti.
Reader's Guide
Universo Treviso Basket represents a notable case of club continuity after the withdrawal of a major corporate sponsor. Founded in 2012 by a consortium of local businessmen and former players, the club effectively replaced Benetton Treviso, inheriting its fanbase and eventually its arena, the PalaVerde. Despite initial rejection from the Italian Basketball Federation for direct entry into Serie A, the club methodically climbed from the amateur seventh division to the top-tier LBA by 2019. Its path included winning the Serie A2 Silver title in 2015 and the Serie A2 championship in 2019. The club's resilience and community backing illustrate how grassroots efforts can sustain professional basketball in a historic market. As of the source article, the club continues in the LBA under the sponsorship name NutriBullet Treviso, with a series of head coaches including Massimiliano Menetti, who led the promotion campaign.
Did You Know?
- The club was founded on 4 July 2012 by a consortium of five local businessmen and sixty-seven firms.
- It was denied entry to Serie A by the Italian Basketball Federation on 2 August 2012, a decision upheld by the Federal Court.
- The club won the amateur Promozione (seventh division) in its first season, then earned promotion to Serie D.
- Universo Treviso Basket plays its home games at the PalaVerde, the former home of Benetton Treviso.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Universo Treviso Basket?
Universo Treviso Basket, commonly shortened to TvB, is a professional basketball club based in Treviso, Veneto, Italy. Founded in 2012, the team has competed in the top-tier Lega Basket Serie A since the 2019–20 season and is currently known as NutriBullet Treviso due to a sponsorship deal.
What is the connection between Universo Treviso and the old Benetton Treviso club?
A local consortium formed Universo Treviso in March 2012 to keep professional basketball alive in the city after the Benetton family withdrew their involvement. Although it is a legally separate entity, the new club effectively absorbed the loyal fanbase of the historic Pallacanestro Treviso.
Where does Universo Treviso play its home games?
The team hosts its matches at the PalaVerde in Treviso, an arena with a seating capacity of roughly 5,144 fans.
Who is the head coach of Universo Treviso Basket as of 2025?
Alessandro Rossi serves as the head coach of Universo Treviso Basket in 2025.
When did Universo Treviso first compete in Italy's top basketball league?
The club entered Lega Basket Serie A for the first time in the 2019–20 season, marking its arrival in Italy's premier professional basketball competition.
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