Virtus Roma

Lore & Background

The club was formed in the late 1960s by the merger of two Roman sides, San Saba and Gruppo Borgo Cavalleggeri, under the name Virtus Aurelia, keeping the founding date of San Saba, 1960. In 1972, Virtus Aurelia merged with GS Banco di Roma, becoming Pallacanestro Banco di Roma Virtus. The side reached the Italian second division in 1978 and moved up to the top-level LBA in 1980. Success followed quickly: Virtus won the Italian championship in 1983 and then, in its first attempt, the 1983–84 FIBA European Champions Cup (EuroLeague), led by Larry Wright, who scored 27 points in the final against FC Barcelona after a 10-point halftime deficit. The club also won the 1984 FIBA Intercontinental Cup and the 1985–86 FIBA Korać Cup.

Reader's Guide

Virtus Roma's significance lies in its rapid rise from a merged local club to a European champion, winning the EuroLeague at its first attempt in 1984. This achievement placed it among an elite group of clubs holding a EuroLeague A license. However, its standing later waned due to financial struggles and voluntary relegation to the second division in 2015. The club's history illustrates the volatility of professional sports: after losing its EuroLeague license in 2012, it unexpectedly reached the Serie A finals in 2013 but declined a return to the EuroLeague due to arena requirements. It was promoted back to Serie A in 2019 after winning the Serie A2 title, only to be dissolved in December 2020 due to bankruptcy. The club was refounded in 2021. Its legacy includes multiple European titles and a notable list of players such as Dino Rađa, Rick Mahorn, and Dejan Bodiroga.

Did You Know?

• Virtus Roma won the 1983–84 FIBA European Champions Cup (EuroLeague) in its first attempt.
• The club was formed by the merger of two Roman sides, San Saba and Gruppo Borgo Cavalleggeri.
• In July 2015, the club voluntarily requested relegation to the Italian second division due to an insufficient budget.
• Virtus Roma lost its EuroLeague A license in 2012 to EA7 Emporio Armani Milano.