VALENCIA, Venezuela (Interstat) — The Guaiqueries de Margarita visit the Trotamundos de Carabobo on Monday at Forum de Valencia in a Venezuelan Superliga matchup with playoff positioning implications.

Margarita (16-9) holds the better record entering the 7 p.m. local contest, but Carabobo (15-10) is close behind in the standings. The two teams met Friday in Margarita, with the Guaiqueries earning a 72-67 victory.

Margarita forward Juan Guerrero is a player to watch. In Friday’s win over Carabobo, Guerrero played 29 minutes, scoring 21 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Over his last eight games, Guerrero has recorded five double-doubles. He posted 23 points and 11 rebounds in a 72-75 loss to the Falcons on April 25, and 23 points with 12 rebounds in an 83-74 win over Zulia on April 21. Guerrero also had 20 points and 16 rebounds in a 71-67 win at Portuguesa on April 29.

Carabobo center Donta Smith is the key for the home side. Smith played 30 minutes in Friday’s loss at Margarita, recording 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists. That performance was a rebound from a slow stretch. In his previous three games, Smith totaled nine points and nine rebounds combined. He played only six minutes in a 101-67 win at La Guaira on April 23, and logged nine minutes with two rebounds in a 93-71 win at the Falcons on May 1. Smith’s best recent outing came on April 21, when he scored 10 points with six rebounds and six assists in a 92-74 win over Avila.

The head-to-head series is split this season. Margarita won the most recent meeting Friday. Carabobo won 89-83 at home on March 25. Margarita won 98-67 at home on April 19.

In Friday’s game, Margarita received strong contributions beyond Guerrero. Forward Francisco Centeno had nine points and eight rebounds in 17 minutes. Guard Kender Urbina added eight points and six assists in 26 minutes.

For Carabobo on Friday, guard Eric Romero scored eight points with 10 rebounds in 22 minutes. Forward Kelvin Caraballo also had eight points and six rebounds in 12 minutes.

The Trotamundos are looking to build consistency after dropping two of their last three games. Carabobo’s loss to Portuguesa on May 4 came by two points, 76-74. The team’s April 25 overtime loss to the Car. Spartans, 80-76, was another narrow defeat.

Margarita has alternated wins and losses over its last five games. After Friday’s win, the Guaiqueries had lost two straight: 80-84 at Avila on May 6 and 58-70 at home to Anzoátegui on May 3.