Pallacanestro Treviso


Pallacanestro Treviso, named Benetton Basket due to a long running sponsorship by the Benetton Group and widely referred to as Benetton Treviso, is an Italian youth basketball club based in Treviso, Veneto.
The club was previously a successful professional club until 2012 when the Benetton Group decided to withdraw from professional basketball, though they retained the youth section at La Ghirada, the sports complex they own. For past club [|sponsorship names], see sponsorship names.

History

Founded in 1954 as Duomo Folgore, it remained in obscurity for the first few decades of its existence though it did reach the first division Lega Basket Serie A in 1962. However the club only stayed there one season, finishing the league in last place, after which it was hampered by financial problems.
Duomo Folfore was renamed Associazione Pallacanestro Treviso sometime during the 1970s, with new ownership.
It then moved up the divisions, reaching the national Serie A2 in 1979.
In 1980-81 the team finished third in the league, earning a return to the Serie A.
The Benetton Group started sponsoring the club during the 1981-82 season, which ended with a relegation to the A2.
The following year, Benetton would become the majority owners of Pallacanestro Treviso, moving into the newly constructed PalaVerde, owned and financed by the family.
Promoted in 1985, it stayed in Serie A one-season before going back down. Another promotion followed in 1987, this one would see the club start a permanent stay in the elite.
In 1991, the club legally became Pallacanestro Treviso, with its status changing from an association to a limited liability company.
That year would spark a new era for Benetton Basket, with the arrival of the legendary Toni Kukoč from the three-peat European Champions of POP 84, but also of Stefano Rusconi from Cagiva Varese and Nino Pellacani, the team would beat Scavolini Pesaro to win their first Serie A title in 1992.
The next season, Benetton won the Italian Cup and reached the Final Four of the FIBA European League that take place in Peace and Friendship Stadium, Piraeus, and in the semifinal defeated PAOK 79–77. In the final, Benetton although it was the favorite of the match, lost to Limoges CSP 55–59.
Though Kukoč left for the NBA in the summer, Riccardo Pittis joined the club that won another Italian Cup that year.
They would win their first European title, the FIBA European Cup against Taugrés, in 1995, thanks to players such as Orlando Woolridge and Petar Naumoski, and also became third successive Italian Cup that garnished the trophy cabinet.
Benetton added another Serie A title in 1997, a second FIBA Saporta Cup in 1999 against Pamesa Valencia, and an Italian cup in 2000.
During the 2001–02 season they won the Italian Supercup and the league.
The next year they did even better with a treble, winning the Supercup, Cup and league but they didn't manage to won the Euroleague title defeated in the final by FC Barcelona.
Adding more league titles after that, Benetton Basket reached the Euroleague Final Four on a few occasions but never managed to win the title.

Struggles

In February 2011, the Benetton family announced they would be withdrawing their support for professional basketball, effectively calling time on Treviso's top flight status if no other backer could be found.
Well-wishers such as former players Paolo Vazzoler and Pittis tried to rouse support for a new club, Treviso Basket 2012. However their application to take Benetton Basket's place in the Serie A was rejected.
Since then Benetton Basket has focused only on youth development, with the Under 17 squad their most senior.
Treviso is represented in professional basket by Universo Treviso Basket - the renamed Treviso Basket 2012 - who, as of June 2015, play in the second division.

Honours

Total titles:

Domestic competitions

Players

FIBA Hall of Famers

Notable players

2010's
2000's
1990's
1980's
Throughout the years, due to sponsorship, the club has been known as: