Zulia Gaiteros host Maracaibo in Venezuelan SLB clash

MARACAIBO, Venezuela (Interstat) — The Zulia Gaiteros, owners of the best record in the Venezuelan Superliga de Baloncesto, welcome Maracaibo on Friday night at Gimnasio Pedro Elias Belisario Aponte in a matchup of familiar foes.

Zulia (20-3) enters the 7 p.m. local tip riding a dominant stretch, having won 10 of its last 12 games. The Gaiteros own a 96-83 home victory over Maracaibo on April 17 and a 78-63 road win on April 4, sweeping the two head-to-head meetings this season.

Maracaibo (12-13) arrives after a 77-69 loss at Anzoátegui on Tuesday, its third defeat in four games. The team sits in the middle of the SLB standings and will need to contain a balanced Zulia attack led by guard Luis Duarte.

Duarte, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard, has been a consistent force. In his last five games, he averaged 13.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists. He posted a 17-point, 6-rebound, 4-assist effort in a 78-77 win at Anzoátegui on May 6 and nearly recorded a triple-double on May 2 against Caracas Spartans with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists. Duarte’s all-around production has been a catalyst for Zulia’s league-leading offense.

For Maracaibo, forward Elias King has emerged as a primary scoring option. The 6-8 big man dropped 25 points and 9 rebounds in a 77-75 win at Avila on May 3, then followed with 20 points and 8 rebounds in the loss to Anzoátegui. King is averaging 18.7 points and 8.0 rebounds over his last three outings and will need help from Tevin Glass (16 points in the last game) and Myke Henry.

Zulia’s depth extends beyond Duarte. Forward Nahziah Carter contributed 17 points in the win at Anzoátegui, while center Jesus Martinez provided 10 points and 8 rebounds. The Gaiteros boast the SLB’s top scoring margin, outscoring opponents by an average of 9.4 points per game.

Friday’s game marks the third meeting between the two clubs in 2026. Zulia has won each of the first two by double digits, including a 13-point margin at home in April. Maracaibo will aim to snap that skid on its home floor — the gym is located in Maracaibo, but Zulia is the designated home team.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. local time.