MARACAIBO, Venezuela (Interstat) — The Zulia Gaiteros edged the Margarita Guaiqueries 88-84 in a Venezuelan SLB game Saturday at Gimnasio Pedro Elias Belisario Aponte to preserve their perfect season.

Zulia improved to 8-0 behind a balanced attack. Jesse Zarzuela led with 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists, while Luis Duarte added 18 points. Nahziah Carter contributed 20 points off the bench.

Margarita, which fell to 5-3, was led by Tyrone White’s game-high 21 points. Juan Guerrero and Pedro Chourio each scored 16. The Guaiqueries closed a double-digit deficit to two points late in the fourth quarter but could not complete the comeback against the league’s top team.