Pallacanestro Messina

Pallacanestro Messina was an Italian professional basketball team based in Messina, Sicily.

History

Established in 1976, the club was admitted to the first division Serie A for the 2003-04 season after Virtus Bologna was excluded for financial irregularities.[1] Messina struggled on every front during that season, finishing dead last in the league whilst suffering from financial problems and a lack of interest from the public.[2] With debts too big to allow the club to even take part in other divisions and scaring off clubs that wanted to buy the side's sporting rights, Messina went bankrupt a few months after the season.[3]

Notable players

  • Italy Agostino Li Vecchi 3 seasons: '99-'00, '02-'04
  • United States Gerrod Abram 2 seasons: '99-'01
  • United States Marques Bragg 2 seasons: '99-'00, '02-'03
  • United States Charles Smith 1/2 season: '00
  • United States Malcolm Mackey 1 season: '00-'01
  • United States Germany Scooter Barry 1 season: '00-'01
  • Italy Cristiano Grappasonni 1 season: '00-'01
  • United States Chris Carrawell 1 season: '00-'01
  • United States Brian Oliver 2 seasons: '01-'03
  • United States Lamarr Greer 1 season: '01-'02
  • United States Puerto Rico Sharif Fajardo 1 season: '01-'02
  • Italy Manuel Vanuzzo 1 season: '01-'02
  • United States Saddi Washington 1 season: '01-'02
  • United States Herman Smith 1 season: '02-'03
  • Italy Leonardo Busca 1 season: '02-'03
  • United States Matt Bonner 1 season: '03-'04
  • United States Marlon Garnett 1 season: '03-'04
  • United States Marquis Estill 1 season: '03-'04
  • Italy Leonardo Busca 1 season: '03-'04
  • United States Vincent Yarbrough 1 season: '03-'04

Sponsorship names

Throughout the years, due to sponsorship, the club has been known as:

  • Ina Sicilia Barcellona (1999-2000)
  • Media Broker Messina (2000-2001)
  • Sicilia Messina (2003-2004)

References

  1. ^ "Fuori la Virtus, ripescata Messina" [Virtus is out, Messina retaken]. LegaBasket.it (in Italian). Messaggero Veneto – Giornale del Friuli. 1 September 2003. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  2. ^ Tartamella, Fabio (7 May 2004). "Il sogno della Sicilia Basket finisce tra debiti e sconfitte" [Sicilia Basket's dream finished in debts and defeats]. LegaBasket.it (in Italian). la Repubblica. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  3. ^ Tartamella, Fabio (19 June 2004). "Per il Messina troppi debiti per sopravvivere" [For Messina, too many debts to survive]. LaRepubblica.it. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  • Serie A historical results (in Italian) Retrieved 23 August 2015