Preview: Independiente Hosts Peñarol in Liga A Matchup

AVELLANEDA, Argentina (Interstat) — Two teams looking to halt recent slides will meet Friday when Independiente hosts Peñarol in an Argentinian Liga A contest.

The home side holds the superior overall record at 16-10 across all competitions, but arrives having lost three consecutive games. Independiente fell 89-78 at Instituto Cordoba on Monday. Forward Enzo Filipetti has been a bright spot, averaging 12.2 points over his last five games, including a 19-point, 7-rebound performance in the most recent loss.

Peñarol (13-12) has dropped two straight, including an 86-70 road loss to Boca Juniors on March 17. The visiting squad will lean on center Ivan Basualdo, who is coming off a versatile performance of 9 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in that defeat. Basualdo has been a consistent force on the glass, recording double-digit rebounds in two of his last four outings.

Independiente won the teams’ last meeting, 90-80, on Jan. 29. Filipetti scored 14 points in that victory.

Both clubs are navigating packed late-season schedules. Following Friday’s game, Independiente travels to face Instituto Cordoba again on March 31. Peñarol continues its road trip at Instituto Cordoba on March 29.

The matchup pits Independiente’s offense, which has scored 89 or more points in four of its last six games, against a Peñarol team seeking defensive consistency after allowing an average of 82.5 points in its two recent losses.

Tip-off is scheduled for Friday night at Estadio Independiente.