Baloncesto Málaga

Baloncesto Málaga, S.A.D.,[2] for sponsorship reasons named Unicaja, is a Spanish professional basketball team that is based in Málaga, Spain. The team plays in the Liga ACB and the EuroCup. The team is sponsored by the Spanish bank Unicaja.

Unicaja
LeaguesLiga ACB
EuroCup
Founded1977 (1977)
HistoryCaja de Ronda
(1977–1992)
Unicaja Mayoral
(1992–1993)
Unicaja Polti
(1993–1994)
Unicaja Málaga
(1994–present)
ArenaPalacio de Deportes José María Martín Carpena
Capacity11,300[1]
LocationMálaga, Spain
Team colorsForest Green, White, Purple and Lime
       
PresidentEduardo García López
Head coachFotios Katsikaris
Team captainCarlos Suárez
OwnershipUnicaja
Championships1 Spanish Championship
1 Spanish Cup
1 EuroCup
1 Korać Cup
Retired numbers1 (5)
Websiteunicajabaloncesto.com

History

Unicaja was originally founded in 1977, as CB Caja de Ronda.[3][4] In 1992, the club merged another ACB team in the city of Málaga, CB Maristas de Málaga, which was originally founded in 1953 as Ademar Basket Club. Over the years, the club has featured players like: Nacho Rodríguez, Berni Rodríguez, Carlos Cabezas, Jorge Garbajosa, Marcus Brown, Sergei Babkov, Michael Ansley, Louis Bullock, and Kenny Miller, as well as numerous other well-known players. The club won its first title, when it won the European-wide third tier level FIBA Korać Cup in the 2000–01 season. They then won the Spanish King's Cup title in 2005. The next year, in the 2005–06 season, Unicaja won its first-ever Spanish League championship.

The club finished its best years to date, by qualifying for the 2007 Euroleague Final Four, where it was defeated in the semifinals by CSKA Moscow, and thus finished in third place in the EuroLeague. In October 2007, Unicaja faced the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies in a friendly match, and they defeated the Grizzlies, by a score of 102–99. That was one of the 17 times that an NBA team has lost to a foreign club. Pau Gasol and Juan Carlos Navarro, two of the greatest Spanish basketball players of all time, played for Memphis in that historical game.[5]

Málaga participated in the European-wide top-tier level league, the EuroLeague, for 15 consecutive seasons (2001–02 season to 2015–16 season). However, in the summer of 2015, it lost its EuroLeague A-licence. Therefore, in the 2016–17 season, Unicaja participated in the second tier level EuroCup. The club immediately won the EuroCup title, in its first season in the league, after winning over Valencia Basket in the league's Finals.[6]

Logos
  • The main logo of the club.
  • The alternate logo of the club.

Home arenas
ACB 2011–12 game between Unicaja and Real Madrid, at Martín Carpena.

Since 1999, Unicaja Málaga has played its home games at the Palacio de Deportes José María Martín Carpena arena. The arena originally seated 9,743 spectators for basketball games, and was expanded in the year 2010, to a current seating capacity of 11,300 people for basketball games.[7]

Players

Retired numbers
Unicaja retired numbers
No Nat. Player Position Tenure Ceremony date
5Berni RodríguezSG1998–201226 June 2012[8]
21 May 2017[9][10]

Current roster

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

Unicaja roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Age
PF 23 Abromaitis, Tim 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 31 – (1989-09-17)17 September 1989
SG 10 Alonso, Francis 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 24 – (1996-05-25)25 May 1996
SF 83 Bouteille, Axel 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 25 – (1995-04-14)14 April 1995
SG 8 Brizuela, Darío 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 26 – (1994-11-08)8 November 1994
PG 9 Díaz, Alberto 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 26 – (1994-04-23)23 April 1994
PG 4 Ferrari, Frankie 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 25 – (1995-12-20)20 December 1995
PG 3 Fernández, Jaime 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) 27 – (1993-06-04)4 June 1993
C 52 Gerun, Volodymyr 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 26 – (1994-03-25)25 March 1994
C 32 Guerrero, Rubén 2.13 m (7 ft 0 in) 25 – (1995-10-22)22 October 1995
PG 99 Mekel, Gal 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 32 – (1988-03-04)4 March 1988
SF 12 Milosavljević, Dragan 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 31 – (1989-05-11)11 May 1989
C 33 Nzosa, Yannick 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 17 – (2003-11-15)15 November 2003
PF 43 Suárez, Carlos (C) 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 34 – (1986-05-23)23 May 1986
PF 2 Thompson, Deon 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 32 – (1988-09-16)16 September 1988
SF 21 Waczyński, Adam 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) 31 – (1989-10-15)15 October 1989
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Ángel Sánchez Cañete
  • Paco Aurioles
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured
Updated: January 21, 2021

Depth chart
Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2
C Rubén Guerrero Volodymyr Gerun Yannick Nzosa
PF Deon Thompson Tim Abromaitis Carlos Suárez
SF Axel Bouteille Adam Waczyński Dragan Milosavljević
SG Francis Alonso Darío Brizuela
PG Alberto Díaz Jaime Fernández Gal Mekel

Colours: Blue = homegrown player; Red = non–FIBA Europe player

Notable players

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

Head coaches

Season by season

CB Caja de Ronda
Season Tier Division Pos. W–L Copa del Rey Other cups European competitions
1978–79 2 1ª División B 10th 6–16
1979–80 2 1ª División B 9th 13–17
1980–81 2 1ª División B 1st 19–2–5
1981–82 1 1ª División 10th 10–1–15 Round of 16
1982–83 1 1ª División 12th 6–20 Quarterfinalist
1983–84 1 Liga ACB 10th 14–16
1984–85 1 Liga ACB 14th 13–19
1985–86 2 1ª División B 4th 18–15
1986–87 2 1ª División B 1st 24–10
1987–88 1 Liga ACB 14th 3–30 Copa PríncipeR16
1988–89 1 Liga ACB 5th 23–15 Quarterfinalist
1989–90 1 Liga ACB 5th 21–17 Round of 16 3 Korać CupR11–1
1990–91 1 Liga ACB 10th 19–21 Third round 3 Korać CupR10–2
1991–92 1 Liga ACB 14th 16–23 Second round

CB Maristas
Season Tier Division Pos. W–L Copa del Rey
1981–82 3 2ª División 1st
1982–83 3 2ª División 2nd
1983–84 3 2ª División 2nd
1984–85 2 1ª División B 15th 6–20
1985–86 3 2ª División 2nd
1986–87 2 1ª División B 18th 12–22
1987–88 2 1ª División B 4th 33–13
1988–89 1 Liga ACB 15th 22–17 First round
1989–90 1 Liga ACB 13th 18–22 Round of 16
1990–91 1 Liga ACB 14th 18–22 Second round
1991–92 1 Liga ACB 15th 15–22 First round

Unicaja
Season Tier Division Pos. W–L Copa del Rey Other cups European competitions
1992–93 1 Liga ACB 6th 19–14 First round
1993–94 1 Liga ACB 12th 13–18 Quarterfinalist
1994–95 1 Liga ACB 2nd 32–16 First round
1995–96 1 Liga ACB 6th 27–14 Quarterfinalist 1 EuroleagueGS8–8
1996–97 1 Liga ACB 7th 22–17 3 Korać CupQF9–3
1997–98 1 Liga ACB 8th 20–17 3 Korać CupR167–3
1998–99 1 Liga ACB 9th 18–16 Quarterfinalist 3 Korać CupGS2–4
1999–00 1 Liga ACB 8th 22–17 Quarterfinalist 3 Korać CupRU11–5
2000–01 1 Liga ACB 4th 30–11 Quarterfinalist 3 Korać CupC14–2
2001–02 1 Liga ACB 2nd 33–10 Semifinalist 1 EuroleagueRS6–8
2002–03 1 Liga ACB 3rd 29–15 Semifinalist 1 EuroleagueT168–12
2003–04 1 Liga ACB 4th 23–19 1 EuroleagueRS4–10
2004–05 1 Liga ACB 3rd 27–16 Champion Supercopa3rd 1 EuroleagueRS6–8
2005–06 1 Liga ACB 1st 35–10 Semifinalist Supercopa4th 1 EuroleagueT1615–5
2006–07 1 Liga ACB 8th 17–20 Quarterfinalist SupercopaRU 1 Euroleague3rd14–11
2007–08 1 Liga ACB 4th 19–19 Quarterfinalist 1 EuroleagueT1613–7
2008–09 1 Liga ACB 3rd 27–11 Runner-up 1 EuroleagueT1610–6
2009–10 1 Liga ACB 4th 21–18 1 EuroleagueT169–7
2010–11 1 Liga ACB 8th 19–17 1 EuroleagueT166–10
2011–12 1 Liga ACB 9th 17–17 Quarterfinalist 1 EuroleagueT164–12
2012–13 1 Liga ACB 9th 18–16 1 EuroleagueT1615–9
2013–14 1 Liga ACB 4th 26–15 Quarterfinalist 1 EuroleagueT1611–13
2014–15 1 Liga ACB 3rd 29–13 Semifinalist 1 EuroleagueT168–16
2015–16 1 Liga ACB 6th 20–16 SupercopaRU 1 EuroleagueT1611–13
2016–17 1 Liga ACB 4th 24–14 Quarterfinalist 2 EuroCupC13–9
2017–18 1 Liga ACB 7th 19–17 Quarterfinalist SupercopaSF 1 EuroLeague9th13–17
2018–19 1 Liga ACB 6th 22-15 Quarterfinalist 2 EuroCupQF12–7
2019–20 1 Liga ACB 10th 15–13 Runner-up 2 EuroCup—11–5

Honours and awards

Honours

National:

  • Liga ACB (Spanish League): (1)
  • Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup): (1)
  • 2nd division championships: (2)
    • 1ª División B: 1981, 1987
  • Andalusia Cup: (13)
    • 1996, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018

International:

Other competitions:

  • Torrox, Spain Invitational Game
    • 2008
  • Trofeo de Platja d'Aro
    • 2008
  • Trofeo Pollinica
    • 2008
  • Trofeo Ciudad de Cordoba, Spain
    • 2009

Individual awards

ACB Finals MVP

Spanish Cup MVP

ACB Slam Dunk Champion

ACB Three Point Shootout Champion

  • Paco Vázquez – 2001

All-EuroLeague Second Team

All-ACB First Team

All-ACB Second Team

EuroCup Finals MVP

Reserve team

Baloncesto Málaga B is the reserve team of Unicaja, basketball based in Málaga.

From 2007 to 2016, Baloncesto Málaga had an agreement with CB Axarquía, for them to play as the club's main farm team, while Baloncesto Málaga B, which currently plays also under the name Unicaja, was the club's third team until the end of this contract.

Women's team

On 14 July 2017, the club announced the creation of a women's team.[11]

Just in its second season, Unicaja promoted to Liga Femenina 2.[12]

Season by season
Season Tier Division Pos.
2017–18 3 1ª División 2nd
2018–19 3 1ª División 1st

References
  1. "Palacio de Deportes, datos de interés" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2014-01-01. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  2. "Unicaja info". Archived from the original on 2015-04-07. Retrieved 2015-04-04.
  3. HISTORIA (in Spanish).
  4. History.
  5. Unicaja defeats Memphis Grizzlies in NBA Euroleague Live 2007 Interbasket. 9 October 2007
  6. "7DAYS EuroCup Finals, Game 3: Unicaja Malaga is the champion!". Eurocupbasketball.com. 5 April 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  7. "Palacio de Deportes, datos de interés" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2014-01-01. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  8. "El Unicaja retira el dorsal 5 en honor a Berni Rodríguez". www.acb.com (in Spanish). 26 June 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  9. "El dorsal "5" del Unicaja, para siempre en el Carpena en homenaje a Berni". www.acb.com (in Spanish). 19 May 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  10. "El 5 del "Eterno Capitán", para siempre en el Carpena". www.acb.com (in Spanish). 22 May 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  11. "Nace Unicaja Baloncesto Femenino" [Unicaja women's basketball borns] (in Spanish). Unicaja Baloncesto. 14 July 2017.
  12. "El Unicaja femenino logró el ascenso a Liga 2" [Unicaja Femenino achieved promotion to Liga 2] (in Spanish). Cadena SER.
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