Roberto Chiacig (born 1 December 1974 in Cividale del Friuli, Italy) is an Italian former professional basketball player, still playing at an amateur level.

Roberto Chiacig
Personal information
Born (1974-12-01) 1 December 1974 (age 49)
Cividale del Friuli, Italy
NationalityItalian
Listed height210 cm (6 ft 11 in)
Listed weight118 kg (260 lb)
Career information
NBA draft1996: undrafted
Playing career1994–present
PositionCenter
Career history
1994Benetton Treviso
1994–1995Petrarca Padova
1995–1996Benetton Treviso
1996–1997AEK
1997–1999Fortitudo Bologna
1999Reggiana
1999–2000RB Montecatini
2000–2006Mens Sana Siena
2006–2007Valencia
2007Virtus Roma
2007–2009Virtus Bologna
2009–2011Scafati
2011–2012Reggiana
2012Biella
2013Costone Siena
2013Fortitudo Agrigento
2013–2014Scafati
2014–2015Mens Sana Siena
2015Virtus Cassino
2015–2016Orzinuovi
2016–2017Cus Jonico Taranto
2017–2018Libertas Livorno
2018–2019Gilbertina Soresina
2020Mens Sana Siena
2022-presentCUS Siena
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men’s Basketball
Representing  Italy
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2004 Athens Team Competition
EuroBasket
Gold medal – first place 1999 France Team Competition
Bronze medal – third place 2003 Sweden Team Competition

Playing as a center, his most notable achievement was the silver medal obtained by the Italian national team, of which he was a member, at the 2004 Summer Olympics. According to many experts, Roberto Chiacig is one of Europe's best centers of all time.

Beyond playing internationally, he also has had a long club career in Italy, and abroad, winning an Italian League championship title with Montepaschi Siena.

Professional career edit

Chiacig grew up in the youth ranks of Benetton Treviso, making his debut for the side in a first division Serie A game on 6 February 1994, playing 4 minutes.[1]

After a one-year loan to Serie A2 side Floor Padova, he broke into the first team.

The Italian moved abroad in 1996, spending one year with Greek Basket League side AEK Athens.

Returning to Italy in 1997, he signed with Teamsystem Bologna. With the Bologna team, he would win the Italian Cup and Italian Supercup in 1998. He stayed there until early 1999, finishing the season with Zucchetti Reggio Emilia.

Chiacig then spent the 1999-2000 season with Zucchetti Montecatini.

Joining Montepaschi Siena in 2000, he spent 6 seasons with the club, winning the 2001–02 FIBA Saporta Cup, the 2003–04 Lega Basket Serie A and another Italian Supercup in 2004.

He then moved to the Spanish Liga ACB in 2006, with Pamesa Valencia. However, he only stayed until February 2007, finishing the season with Pallacanestro Virtus Roma.

In 2007, he joined La Fortezza Bologna, rivals of former club Fortitudo. He stayed there for two years, winning the 2008–09 FIBA EuroChallenge.

Chiacig then moved to Scafati Basket in 2009, also staying there two years.

After another season at Pallacanestro Reggiana, he joined Angelico Biella in September 2012.[2]

He was released after around three months, joining amateur side Costone Siena in January 2013.[3]

Chiacig only stayed a month with Costone, signing with Fortitudo Agrigento in February.[4]

The next year he had another stint with Scafati Basket.

In 2014 Chiacig returned to the club where he had the most success, Mens Sana 1871 Siena (formerly Montepaschi), by now in the third division Serie B Basket.

International career edit

Making his international debut with Italy in 1994, Chiacig participated in the 1997 Summer Universiade.[5]

With the senior Italian national basketball team, he took part in a succession of international tournaments, starting with the 1998 FIBA World Championship.[6]

He posted 6.6 points and 3.1 rebounds, in nearly 18 minutes per game, as Italy won the gold medal at the EuroBasket 1999.[5][6]

In the EuroBasket 2003, he had 22.1 points and 14.3 rebounds, in around 18, minutes as Italy took home the bronze.[5][6]

While playing in the 2004 Summer Olympics, his second Summer Olympics participation after the 2000 Summer Olympics, he contributed 16.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, to Italy's run to the final, earning a silver medal in the process.[5][6]

Chiacig's last games with the national team came during the EuroBasket 2005.[5]

Honours and accomplishments edit

Individual edit

Orders edit

Team edit

Clubs edit

Italian senior national team edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Legabasket Serie A - 4ª Giornata ritorno: Scavolini Pesaro 82 - 79 Benetton Treviso" [Legabasket Serie A - 4th day return:Scavolini Pesaro 82 - 79 Benetton Treviso]. Lega Basket Serie A (in Italian). 6 February 1994. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Domani il saluto al Mine. Si aggrega Chiacig" [Tomorrow a welcome to the Mine. Chiacig joins]. Pallacanestro Biella (in Italian). 15 September 2012. Archived from the original on 17 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  3. ^ Rosa, Roberto (26 January 2013). "DNB-Roberto Chiacig vestirà la maglia del Costone" [DNB-Roberto Chiacig will wear Costone's jersey]. Costone Siena (in Italian). Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  4. ^ Schembri, Silvio (26 February 2013). "Roberto Chiacig è un giocatore della Fortitudo Moncada Agrigento" [Roberto Chiacig is Fortitudo Moncada Agrigento player]. Fortitudo Agrigento (in Italian). Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Roberto Chiacig" [Roberto Chiacig]. Federazione Italiana Pallacanestro (in Italian). Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  6. ^ a b c d "Italy: 14 - Roberto Chiacig". FIBA. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Chiacig Sig. Roberto". Quirinale.it (in Italian). Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  8. ^ "Ciampi nomina cavalieri gli italiani vincitori ad Atene" [Ciampi will knight the Italians victorious at Athens]. la Repubblica (in Italian). Rome. 30 August 2004. Retrieved 17 June 2015.

External links edit