Victoria Titans

Victoria Titans
Victoria Titans logo
LeaguesNBL
Founded1998
Dissolved2004
HistoryVictoria Titans
1998–2002
Victoria Giants
2002–2004
ArenaMelbourne Park (1998–2000)
Vodafone Arena (2000–2002)
MSAC (2002–2004)
CapacityMP – 15,000
VA – 10,500
MSAC – 2,000
LocationMelbourne, Victoria
Team colorsTitans – Black, teal, white
     
Giants – Carolina blue, orange, white, black
       
Main sponsorLiberty
Championships0
Websitewww.giants.com.au

The Victoria Titans (known in its final two seasons as the Victoria Giants), were an Australian professional basketball team that competed in the National Basketball League (NBL).[1] The club was based in Melbourne, Victoria.[2]

History

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The Titans were founded as a merger between the South East Melbourne Magic and North Melbourne Giants and competed in the National Basketball League (NBL) between the 1998–99 season and the 2003–04 season, and played their home games at Melbourne Park (1998–2000) and Vodafone Arena (2000–2002) when branded as the Titans. As the Giants the team played their games at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (2002–2004).

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.[3]

Season by season

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NBL champions League champions Runners-up Finals berth
Season Tier League Regular season Post-season Head coach Captain Club MVP
Finish Played Wins Losses Win %
Victoria Titans
1998–99 1 NBL 4th 26 16 10 .615 Won qualifying finals (Wollongong) 2–0
Won semifinals (Melbourne) 2–0
Lost NBL finals (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 semifinals (Adelaide) 2–1
Lost NBL finals (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 semifinals (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 semifinals (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 regular 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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The logo used by the Victoria Giants from 2002 to 2004.
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

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  1. ^ "2001 NBL Clubs". NBL.com.au. 8 April 2001. Archived from the original on 8 April 2001. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Howell, Stephen (19 October 2005). "Victoria back to two teams in NBL". TheAge.com.au. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
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