Virtus Roma 2008-09, team profile
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 A former Euroleague champion, Virtus Roma is aiming for a new golden era for basketball in the eternal city, Rome. Back-to-back appearances in the Euroleague Top 16, the club's first trip to the Italian League finals in a quarter-century and a new arena project are among the reasons to believe that the best is still to come for this club. Virtus Roma was founded in 1960, and has been one of the strongest names in the Italian League and Europe ever since. With national competition of the highest level, the club never amassed armfuls of titles, but it was Italian League champ in 1983 and Euroleague king in 1984, defeating Barcelona in the finals. Larry Wright helped the team to rally from a 16-point deficit in the second half of the 1984 title game, and lifted the trophy with the help of Clarence Kea, Renzo Tombolato and Fulvio Polesello. Virtus Roma also added a Korac Cup title in 1992, under the name of Il Messaggero Roma, downing Scavolini Pesaro in the two-way final. Dino Radja led Roma to that triumph with the help of Rick Mahorn, Roberto Premier and Andrea Niccolai. The early 1990s was a high time for Roma, which brought in world-renowned players like Mahorn, Radja, Danny Ferry and Brian Shaw. The team stayed competitive throughout the decade despite not winning another title. The 2002-03 season was a decisive one for Roma. With a roster led by star guard Carlton Myers, the team soared to one of its best seasons ever in the domestic league, 25-9, and a second-place finish in the regular season. The team then rolled into the Italian playoff semifinals, which also qualified Roma for the 2003-04 Euroleague. Even though it failed to advance to the Top 16 in its return to the continent's top competition, the Italian capital was a hot spot again for basketball.
2007-08 RESULTS | Euroleague | | Italian League | R. Season | 23-11 | Playoffs | Finalist |
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That was especially true once Lottomatica landed Dejan Bodiroga and head coach Svetislav Pesic, both recent Euroleague champs, in the summer of 2005. Lottomatica instantly improved its results, posting the best regular season record in the ULEB Cup and making it to the quarterfinals, before going out to defending champion Hapoel Jerusalem. Lottomatica also made it to the Italian League semifinals and only lost the Italian Cup final in overtime. Since that season, Roma has made the Italian League semifinals or better each season, only losing to eventual champions. Its progress in the Euroleague has also been consistent under head coach Jasmin Repesa, with the retired Bodiroga now using his skills to make things happen as general manager. With the foundation in place, the time could be right to see Roma recreate its glorious run of the 1980s one more time.
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