Victoria Giants
The Victoria Giants, previously known as the Victoria Titans, were an Australian professional basketball team based in Melbourne, Victoria.[1]
Victoria Giants | |||
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Leagues | NBL | ||
Founded | 1998 | ||
Dissolved | 2004 | ||
History | Victoria Titans 1998–2002 Victoria Giants 2002–2004 | ||
Arena | Melbourne Park (1998–2000) Vodafone Arena (2000–2002) Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (2002–2004) | ||
Capacity | MP – 15,000 VA – 10,500 MSAC – 2,000 | ||
Location | Melbourne, Victoria | ||
Team colors | Carolina blue, orange, white, and black | ||
Main sponsor | Liberty | ||
Head coach | Full list | ||
Team captain | Full list | ||
Championships | 0 | ||
Website | www.giants.com.au | ||
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History
The Giants competed in the National Basketball League (NBL) between the 1998–99 season and the 2003–04 season, and played their home games at Vodafone Arena when branded as the Titans, and at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre when rebranded as the Giants.
Under the Titans name, the team competed in back-to-back NBL Grand Finals in 1999 and 2000, losing to the Adelaide 36ers and Perth Wildcats respectively. After the Titans folded in mid-2002, a group fronted by businessman Peter Fiddes was granted a licence in their place and called the new team the Giants. The club struggled financially for one season before being propped up by Gerry Ryan for the 2003–04 season. Ryan and co-owner Sandy Constantine pulled the team out of the league in 2004, but retained the licence despite the NBL's attempts to take it back.[2]
Season by season
NBL champions (1998–2004) |
Season champions (1998–2004) |
Runners-up (1998–2004) |
Finals berth (1998–2004) |
Season | Division | League | Regular season | Post-season | Head Coach | Captain | Club MVP | ||||
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Finish | Played | Wins | Losses | Win % | |||||||
Victoria Titans | |||||||||||
1998–99 | 1 | NBL | 4th | 26 | 16 | 10 | .615 | Won Qualifying Finals (Wollongong, 2–0) Won Semi-Finals (Melbourne, 2–0) Lost Grand Final (Adelaide, 1–2) |
Brian Goorjian | Tony Ronaldson | Tony Ronaldson |
1999–2000 | 1 | NBL | 4th | 28 | 20 | 8 | .714 | Won Elimination Finals (Melbourne, 2–1) Won Semi-Finals (Adelaide, 2–1) Lost Grand Final (Perth, 0–2) |
Brian Goorjian | Tony Ronaldson | Jason Smith |
2000–01 | 1 | NBL | 1st | 28 | 22 | 6 | .786 | Lost Qualifying Finals (Adelaide, 1–2) Lost Semi-Finals (Townsville, 1–2) |
Brian Goorjian | Tony Ronaldson | Chris Anstey |
2001–02 | 1 | NBL | 1st | 30 | 21 | 9 | .700 | Lost Qualifying Finals (Melbourne, 1–2) Lost Semi-Finals (Adelaide, 1–2) |
Brian Goorjian | Tony Ronaldson | Chris Anstey |
Victoria Giants | |||||||||||
2002–03 | 1 | NBL | 10th | 30 | 9 | 21 | .300 | Did Not Qualify | Mark Wright | Darryl McDonald | Jamahl Mosley |
2003–04 | 1 | NBL | 11th | 33 | 11 | 22 | .333 | Did Not Qualify | Mark Wright | Rob Feaster | Ben Pepper |
Regular season record | 175 | 99 | 76 | .566 | 2 Season champions | ||||||
Finals record | 27 | 13 | 14 | .481 | 0 NBL Championships |
As of the end of the 2003–04 season
Source: Victoria Giants Year by Year
Honour roll
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NBL Championships: | None |
NBL finals appearances: | 4 (1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2001/02) |
NBL Grand Final appearances: | 2 (1999, 2000) |
NBL Most Valuable Player: | None |
NBL Grand Final MVP: | None |
All-NBL First Team: | Jason Smith (2001), Chris Anstey (2002) |
NBL Coach of the Year: | Brian Goorjian (2002) |
NBL Rookie of the Year: | None |
NBL Most Improved Player: | None |
NBL Best Defensive Player: | None |
NBL Best Sixth Man: | Chris Anstey (2001), Jamahl Mosley (2002) |
References
- Uluc, Olgun (16 October 2015). "The NBL's defunct franchises: Sydney Astronauts, Launceston Casino City, Singapore Slingers, and more". FoxSports.com.au. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
- Howell, Stephen (19 October 2005). "Victoria back to two teams in NBL". TheAge.com.au. Retrieved 26 September 2017.