| CIMEBA | |
| Confed: | FIBA Americas (Americas) |
| Founded: | 1970 |
| First: | 1970–71 |
| Folded: | 2007 |
| Levels: | 1 |
| Champions: | Guerreros de Chilpancingo (1st title) |
| Most Champs: | Leñadores de Durango (4) |
The Circuito Mexicano de Básquetbol, also known with the acronym CIMEBA, was a professional basketball league in Mexico. The first edition was the 1970–71 season, and it continued until the 2006–07 season, after which the league was discontinued. The league coexisted with the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (LNBP) from 2000 to 2007, and with the Circuito de Baloncesto de la Costa del Pacífico (CIBACOPA) from 2001 to 2007.
CIMEBA was founded in 1970, with the first season being played between 1970 and 1971.[1] The league held an annual All-Star Game.[2] In November 1999 a selection of CIMEBA players named "CIMEBA All-Stars" toured the United States and played games against NCAA Division I college teams such as Illinois,[3] Michigan State, Minnesota,[4] Ohio, and Purdue.[5]
In the late 1990s and the early 2000s, CIMEBA rules established a maximum number of 3 foreign players per team.[6] In the early 2000s the league also organized another tournament, Conferencia de Básquetbol de Desarrollo CIMEBA (CIMEBA Development Basketball Conference), also known as COBADE, which was played at the same time as CIMEBA.[7]
CIMEBA was the main basketball league in Mexico until the creation of the LNBP (2000) and the CIBACOPA (2001).[8] In the early 2000s the league experienced financial difficulties.[9] [10] Some of the teams left for the LNBP, while others retired at mid-season. The last edition was the 2006–07 season, won by Guerreros de Chilpancingo.[11] The last CIMEBA president was Agustín Villa.[12]
| Season | Champion | |
|---|---|---|
| 1970–71 | Lechugueros de León | |
| 1971–72 | Santos de San Luis | |
| 1972–73 | Lechugueros de León | |
| 1973 | Panteras de Aguascalientes | |
| 1974 | Panteras de Aguascalientes[13] | |
| 1975 | Dragones de Tijuana | |
| 1979 | Leñadores de Durango[14] | |
| 1980 | Santos de San Luis | |
| 1981 | Leñadores de Durango | |
| 1982 | Dorados de Chihuahua[15] | |
| 1983 | Abejas de Tabasco | |
| 1984 | Águilas del IMSS | |
| 1985 | Dorados de Chihuahua | |
| 1986 | Abejas de Puebla | |
| 1987 | Abejas de Puebla | |
| 1988 | Leñadores de Durango[16] | |
| 1989 | Leones Negros de la UdeG[17] [18] | |
| 1990 | Dorados de Chihuahua | |
| 1990–91 | Tecolotes de la UAG | |
| 1991–92 | Indios de la UACJ[19] | |
| 1992–93 | Pioneros de Delicias[20] | |
| 1993–94 | Leñadores de Durango | |
| 1994–95 | No data available | |
| 1995–96 | Dorados de Chihuahua | |
| 1997–98 | Santos de San Luis | |
| 1998–99 | Correcaminos UAT Tampico | |
| 1999–00 | Soles de Jalisco[21] | |
| 2000–01 | Soles de Jalisco | |
| 2001–02 | Soles de Jalisco | |
| 2002–03 | Mineros de Zacatecas[22] [23] | |
| 2003–04 | Jaguares de Chiapas | |
| 2006–07 | Guerreros de Chilpancingo |
| Team | Championships | Year(s) won | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leñadores de Durango | 1979, 1981, 1988, 1994–95 | ||
| Dorados de Chihuahua | 1982, 1985, 1990, 1996 | ||
| Santos de San Luis | 1971–72, 1980, 1997–98 | ||
| Soles de Jalisco | 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02 | ||
| Lechugueros de León | 1970–71, 1972–73 | ||
| Panteras de Aguascalientes | 1973, 1974 | ||
| Jaguares de Chiapas | 2003–04 | ||
| Abejas de Tabasco | 1983 | ||
| Águilas de IMSS | 1984 | ||
| Abejas de Puebla | 1986 | ||
| Leones Negros de la UdeG | 1989 | ||
| Tecolotes de la UAG | 1990–91 | ||
| Indios de la UACJ | 1991–92 | ||
| Pioneros de Delicias | 1992–93 | ||
| Mineros de Zacatecas | 2002–03 | ||
| Guerreros de Chilpancingo | 2006–07 |