Capitanes de Ciudad de México

The Capitanes de Ciudad de México (English: Mexico City Captains) are a Mexican professional basketball team based in Mexico City. The Capitanes competed as a member club in the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (LNBP) and has been announced to join the NBA G League for the 2021–22 season. The team plays their home games in the Gimnasio Juan de la Barrera.

Capitanes de Ciudad de México
LeagueLiga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional
2017–2020
NBA G League
Beginning in 2021–22
Founded2017
HistoryCapitanes de Ciudad de México
2017–present
ArenaGimnasio Juan de la Barrera
Capacity5,242
LocationMexico City
Team colorsBlue, yellow, black[1]
     
PresidentMoisés Cosío
General managerAlfonso Monroy
Head coachRamón Díaz Sánchez
OwnershipMoisés Cosío[2]
Websitecapitanes.mx

The Capitanes were established before the 2017–18 season after the Mexican capital had been without a basketball team for a decade. The team was announced in October 2016.[3]

In December 2019, the National Basketball Association's commissioner Adam Silver announced that the Capitanes will be joining the league's developmental league, the NBA G League, for at least five seasons beginning in the 2020–21 season.[4] However, following the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, no mention was made of the Capitanes participating in the league's 2021 bubble season[5] and the team announced it would join in 2021–22.

History

Foundation

The Mexican capital had lacked a competitive basketball team for a decade. In an attempt of reanimating the passion for basketball in Mexico City, a group of investors led by Moisés Cosío, announced the foundation of this new franchise.[3] The group of investors accepted that the situation was challenging but Jordi Funtantet stated: "It means a challenge and a very big opportunity, a challenge because as you say, it comes back and we have to assure the fans that we will be here for them (...) we are a team that can place their trust where they can deposit their passion for the basketball."[6] It would be the first Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (LNBP) team not economically linked to the government and with totally private investment.

The players that were aimed to be brought into this new franchise were to be a solid base from the national team, and more experienced players from abroad.[6]

The first season

The management stated that the team's goal for the season, was to be qualification to the playoffs with an aim to the semifinal. The head coach for the season, was to be the Spaniard Ramón Díaz, who had been previously involved with the National Team, as an assistant coach. The state of the Gimnasium was improved, including dressing rooms, and the playing surface.[7]

Their first preseason game ended in defeat against an amateur side. Their first official game was played on October 13, and ended in a 90-87 win for the Capitanes, against the Aguacateros de Michoacán.[8] Their first season went extraordinarily, specially considering they were a new team. The Capitanes amassed a total of 21 wins in their first 30 matches, powered by an outstanding offense commanded by Pedro Meza, Fernando Bénitez, and Emmanuel Ándujar, who all received call ups to the All Star game in early December, along with head coach Ramón Díaz.[9]

NBA G League

In December 2019, commissioner Adam Silver of the National Basketball Association (NBA) announced Capitanes were joining the NBA G League.[10] The initial plan was starting from the 2020–21 season, the team would play in the G League for five seasons and be the first team outside the United States and Canada. However, due the restrictions in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was postponed and eventually played at a single site in Orlando, Florida, for an abbreviated 2021 season without the Capitanes. The team announced it still plans to join the G League in 2021–22.[11]

Logo and uniforms
The landmark, upon which the logo was based,

The Capitanes colours consist of blue, yellow and grey. The uniforms consist of a blue home jersey with an embroidered yellow outline, and yellow lines in the sides. The away jersey is the exact opposite of the home, as in mainly yellow with blue embroidery. The alternate colour is grey, with yellow embroidered in the neck and sides.

The team's logo consists of a yellow and blue rendering of the Monumento a la Revolución, a landmark of Mexico City, with the word Capitanes, underneath it, and Ciudad de México, in a smaller typography.


Home arena
The Capitanes home arena

The Juan de la Barrera Olympic Gymnasium is a sports venue in Mexico City where the volleyball competitions of the Olympic Games of Mexico 1968 were held. It is located next to the Francisco Márquez Olympic Pool, occupying an area of 11,152 M2.

The two levels of stands, with capacity for 5,242 spectators, surround the area of competitions. The heating zone, showers, changing rooms and infirmary are connected by exterior ramps.

Season by season
Champions Runners-up Playoff berth
Season Tier League Finish Wins Losses Win% Playoffs International competitions Head coach
Capitanes
2017–18 1 LNPB 2nd 26 14 .650 Won quarterfinals (Correcaminos, 3–2)
Won semifinals (Fuerza Regia, 4–1)
Lost finals (Soles)		 Ramón Díaz Sánchez
2018–19 1 LNPB 1st 27 13 .675 Won quarterfinals (Abejas, 4–0)
Won semifinals (Soles, 4–2)
Lost finals (Fuerza Regia, 2–4)		 Americas League
4th Place		 Ramón Díaz Sánchez
2019–20 1 LNPB 2nd 25 11 .694 Lost quarterfinals (Aguacateros, 1–4) BCL Americas
Group Stage		 Ramón Díaz Sánchez
2020–21 NBA G League Ramón Díaz Sánchez

In international competitions

  Champions    Runners-up    Third place    Fourth place  

Year Competition Round W L W%
2019FIBA Americas LeagueFourth Place23.400
2019–20BCL AmericasGroup Stage13.250
Total 0 Titles 3 6 .333

References
  1. "Capitanes de Ciudad de México Reproduction Guideline Sheet". NBA Properties, Inc. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  2. "Capitanes". lnbp.mx. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
  3. "Los Capitanes, el nuevo equipo de basquetbol de la Ciudad de México | Publimetro México". publimetro.com.mx. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
  4. "NBA G League Expands to Mexico City in Landmark Partnership with Capitanes". NBA G League. December 12, 2019.
  5. "NBA G League To Begin Play at Disney In February". NBA G League. January 8, 2021.
  6. Juan Carlos Díaz. "Presentan a Los Capitanes de la CDMX". deportes.televisa.com. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
  7. "Capitanes, el nuevo equipo de la Ciudad de México [ENTREVISTA] | Diario de México| Diario de México |". diariodemexico.com. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
  8. "Capitanes - Con un apretado 90-87 los Capitanes hacen..." Facebook. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
  9. "Nacionales se llevan el Juego de Estrellas de la LNBP - Grupo Milenio". laaficion.milenio.com. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
  10. "NBA G League Expands to Mexico City in Landmark Partnership with Capitanes". NBA.com. December 12, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  11. "NBA G-LEAGUE ANUNCIA EL INICIO DE SU TEMPORADA 2021 CAPITANES DEBUTARÁ EN LA SIGUIENTE TEMPORADA(2021-2022)". Capitanes. January 8, 2021.
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