Valencia Basket

(Redirected from Valencia BC)

Valencia Basket Club S.A.D.,[1] commonly known as Valencia Basket (pronounced [baˈlenθja βasˈket]), is a professional basketball team based in Valencia, Spain. The team plays in the Liga ACB and the EuroLeague, with home games played at the Font de Sant Lluís. The club is owned by retail tycoon Juan Roig.[2]

Valencia Basket
Valencia Basket logo
NicknameTaronges (Oranges)
LeaguesLiga ACB
EuroCup
Founded27 September 1986; 37 years ago (1986-09-27)
HistoryValencia Basket
(1986–Present)
ArenaFont de Sant Lluís
Capacity9,000
LocationValencia, Spain
Team colorsOrange, Black, White
     
PresidentVicent J. Solá
Head coachPedro Martínez
Team captainVictor Claver
OwnershipJuan Roig
Championships1 Spanish League
1 Spanish Cup
1 Spanish Supercup
4 EuroCup
Retired numbers2 (11, 15)
Websitevalenciabasket.com

History

1986–1997

Valencia Basket was founded on 27 September 1986, after Valencia CF decided to fold its basketball section.[3]

On 4 May 1988, while in its second season in the Primera División B, which was the second tier league of Spanish basketball at that time, the team won its first promotion to the Spanish top-tier level ACB,[4] where the team remained until the 1994–95 season. In 1995, Valencia was relegated to the Spanish 2nd-tier level EBA League, after falling in the league's relegation playoff against Somontano Huesca. In the next season, after being the runner-up in Liga EBA, in a non-promoting season, Valencia BC bought Amway Zaragoza's ACB place to join the top league, where it has remained until nowadays.

1998–2014

On 2 February 1998, Pamesa Valencia won its first Spanish national title, after beating Pinturas Bruguer Badalona, by a score of 89–75, in the final of the 1998 Copa del Rey, which was played in Valladolid. One year later, on 13 April 1999, the club played in the final of the 1998–99 FIBA Saporta Cup, but was defeated by Benetton Treviso, 64–60, in the final played in Zaragoza. Three years later, the club repeated the same success, but Montepaschi Siena won the final of the 2001–02 FIBA Saporta Cup, by a score of 81–71, in Lyon, France.

Continuing on with some of the club's best years, the 2001–02 ACB season was historic for the club, as it reached the Spanish ACB League finals, where they could not win any games in their series against FC Barcelona. Before this first success in reaching the finals of the Spanish league's playoffs, Pamesa Valencia won its first European-wide title, by defeating Krka Novo Mesto in the 2002–03 ULEB Cup, which would then also allow the club to make its debut in the European top-tier level EuroLeague.

In its first EuroLeague participation, Pamesa Valencia qualified for the Top 16, but was eliminated there, after not contesting its game at Nokia Arena against Maccabi Tel Aviv, adducing security issues in Israel.[5]

On 18 April 2010, Power Electronics Valencia won its second European title, by beating Alba Berlin, 67–44, in the 2010 EuroCup Finals, which was played in Vitoria-Gasteiz.[6] This allowed the club to come back to the top level EuroLeague, seven years after its first participation in the tournament. This time, Valencia reached the EuroLeague quarterfinals, where it was eliminated by Real Madrid, who won the playoff series by a 3–2 margin.

The club's third European-wide 2nd-tier level EuroCup title arrived on 7 May 2014, when Valencia beat UNICS Kazan, in the double-legged finals.

2015–present

On 5 June 2017, Valencia Basket qualified for its second Spanish Liga ACB Finals series, after defeating Baskonia in the semifinals of the 2017 national league playoffs. This time, the club won its first ever Spanish national domestic league championship, on 16 June 2017, by defeating Real Madrid with a 3–1 series score in the ACB league's finals.[7] In the same season, the club also reached the finals of both the Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup), and the EuroCup, but they lost those finals to Real Madrid, and fellow Spanish side, Unicaja, respectively. By winning the Spanish League championship, Valencia also sealed their return to the next season's top-tier level EuroLeague competition, for the 2017–18 season.

The club's fourth European-wide 2nd-tier level EuroCup title arrived on 16 April 2019, when Valencia beat Alba Berlin, in the double-legged finals.

Arena

External and internal view of La Fonteta

During its first season of existence, the team played its home games at the La Canaleta Sports Complex in the municipality of Mislata.[8]

Since 1987 Valencia Basket plays its home games at the 8,500 seat Font de Sant Lluís arena.[9] The arena is better known as La Fonteta.

The club is expected to move to a new 15,600 seat arena called Roig Arena (previously proposed as Casal España Arena),[10] with the inauguration scheduled for 2024.[11][12]

Sponsorship naming

Valencia Basket has had several sponsorship names over the years:

  • Valencia-Hoja del Lunes: 1986–1987
  • Pamesa Valencia: 1987–2009
  • Power Electronics Valencia: 2009–2011

Logos

Players

Retired numbers

Valencia Basket 2017-18 Euroleague season roster in pre-match
Valencia Basket retired numbers
NoNat.PlayerPositionTenure
11 Nacho RodillaPG1994–2003
15 Víctor LuengoSG/SF1992–2007

Current roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Valencia Basket roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Age
F1 Claver, Víctor (C)2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) 35 – (1988-08-30)30 August 1988
G/F2 Puerto, Josep2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 25 – (1999-03-08)8 March 1999
F/C3 Reuvers, Nate2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 25 – (1998-09-30)30 September 1998
F/C4 Pradilla, Jaime2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 23 – (2001-01-03)3 January 2001
G/F5 Anderson, Justin1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 30 – (1993-11-19)19 November 1993
SF6 López-Arostegui, Xabier2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 27 – (1997-05-19)19 May 1997
G7 Jones, Chris1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 31 – (1993-04-10)10 April 1993
PG16 Jović, Stefan1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 33 – (1990-11-03)3 November 1990
C21 Toure, Boubacar2.13 m (7 ft 0 in) 28 – (1995-12-31)31 December 1995
C32 Davies, Brandon2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 32 – (1991-07-25)25 July 1991
F37 Ojeleye, Semi1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 29 – (1994-12-05)5 December 1994
F/C Sestina, Nate2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 27 – (1997-05-12)12 May 1997
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured

Updated: June 18, 2024


Depth chart

Pos.Starting 5Bench 1Bench 2
CBrandon DaviesNate ReuversBoubacar Toure
PFJaime Pradilla *Víctor Claver *
SFSemi OjeleyeXabier López-Arostegui *
SGJustin AndersonJosep Puerto *
PGChris JonesStefan Jovic

† indicates an overseas player.

* indicates a "cupo" player.

In compliance with ACB's homegrown player policy, only 2 overseas players can be in the roster for every given match, with the exception of those holding a European citizenship, or from any country with an association treaty, such as the Cotonou Agreement. In addition to that, at least 4 of the players in a 12 or more player roster must "cupo" players (i.e., they are Spanish, or must have been in the youth systems of a Spanish club for at least 3 years).[9][10] Euroleague Basketball does not have any policy in regards of players' origin, so it is possible for teams to call more than two overseas players for a match in Euroleague competitions.

FIBA Hall of Famers

Valencia Basket Hall of Famers
Players
No.Nat.NamePositionTenureInducted
44 Antoine RigaudeauG2003–20052015[13]

Head coaches

Season by season

SeasonTierDivisionPos.W–LCopa del ReyOther cupsEuropean competitions
1986–8721ª División B19th14–20
1987–8821ª División B8th24–19
1988–891Liga ACB16th12–27First round
1989–901Liga ACB10th27–12Round of 16
1990–911Liga ACB9th18–22Second round
1991–921Liga ACB9th21–19Second round
1992–931Liga ACB10th19–15Second round
1993–941Liga ACB12th15–17First round
1994–951Liga ACB19th16–26First round
1995–962Liga EBA2nd[a]28–10
1996–971Liga ACB11th17–17
1997–981Liga ACB7th21–17Champion
1998–991Liga ACB6th20–19Quarterfinalist2 Saporta CupRU17–2
1999–001Liga ACB6th20–17Runner-up2 Saporta CupQF13–3
2000–011Liga ACB5th23–15Semifinalist2 Saporta CupSF11–5
2001–021Liga ACB6th22–16Quarterfinalist2 Saporta CupRU13–4
2002–031Liga ACB2nd32–13Semifinalist2 ULEB CupC14–4
2003–041Liga ACB5th24–14Quarterfinalist1 EuroleagueT1613–7
2004–051Liga ACB9th18–16Semifinalist2 ULEB CupSF11–1–4
2005–061Liga ACB9th16–18Runner-up
2006–071Liga ACB7th20–18
2007–081Liga ACB5th23–14Quarterfinalist2 ULEB CupQF10–5
2008–091Liga ACB7th16–18Quarterfinalist2 EurocupQF10–3
2009–101Liga ACB5th23–13Semifinalist2 EurocupC14–2
2010–111Liga ACB5th24–12SemifinalistSupercopaRU1 EuroleagueQF10–11
2011–121Liga ACB4th23–182 EurocupRU12–4
2012–131Liga ACB6th23–14Runner-upSupercopaSF2 EurocupSF11–5
2013–141Liga ACB3rd34–8Semifinalist2 EurocupC15–9
2014–151Liga ACB4th23–18QuarterfinalistSupercopaSF1 EuroleagueRS3–7
2 EurocupQF5–5
2015–161Liga ACB3rd31–9Quarterfinalist2 EurocupL3213–3
2016–171Liga ACB1st31–12Runner-up2 EuroCupRU18–5
2017–181Liga ACB5th23–14QuarterfinalistSupercopaC1 EuroLeague9th12–18
2018–191Liga ACB3rd25–15Quarterfinalist2 EuroCupC20–3
2019–201Liga ACB3rd16–13SemifinalistSupercopaSF1 EuroLeague12–16
2020–211Liga ACB4rd27–15Quarterfinalist1 EuroLeague9th19–15
2021–221Liga ACB5th24–13QuarterfinalistSupercopaSF2 EuroCupSF14–7
2022–231Liga ACB8th17–19Quarterfinalist1 EuroLeague9th15–19
2023–241Liga ACB5th22–15Semifinalist1 EuroLeague13th14–20

Honours

The Copa del Rey and the three EuroCups conquered by the club.

Trophies and awards

2017
Runners-up (1): 2003
1998
Runners-up (4): 2000, 2006, 2013, 2017
2017
Runners-up (2): 1999, 2002
2003, 2010, 2014, 2019
Runners-up (2): 2012, 2017

Friendly trophies

  • Torneo de Lleida Stagepro: (1)
2009
  • Valencia, Spain Invitational Game: (1)
2009
2014
  • Trofeo Feria de Albacete: (1)
2019
  • Castello, Spain Invitational Game: (1)
2019
  • Salou, Spain Invitational Game: (1)
2020

Individual awards

Notable players

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Criteria

To appear in this section a player must have either:

  • Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club
  • Played at least one official international match for their national team at any time
  • Played at least one official NBA match at any time.

Women's team

The women's team of Valencia Basket was created in 2014 and promoted to Liga Femenina in 2018, winning the final game against Real Club Celta de Vigo in Valencia. This access to the first division and the relegation of CB Estudiantes made Valencia Basket the only club with masculine and feminine representation in the first division in the 2018-2019 season.

In the first season competing on the first division, Valencia Basket achieved a ticket to their first Copa de la Reina de baloncesto, celebrated in Vitoria between the 28th of February and the 3 of June. Also, they achieve a spot to participate in the playoffs, losing against Perfumerías Avenida on the semifinals, but achieving the opportunity to play his first European tournament the next season.

References