AP Sports Preview

VALENCIA, Venezuela (Interstat) — The Guaiqueries de Margarita visit the Trotamundos de Carabobo on Thursday night at Forum de Valencia in a Venezuelan SLB matchup with playoff implications. Carabobo (17-10) enters one game ahead of Margarita (16-11) in the standings. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. local time.

The teams have met three times in the past week, with Carabobo winning the most recent two at home: 73-56 on May 18 and 67-63 on May 19. Margarita’s lone win in the stretch came at home on May 15, 72-67. In the season series, Carabobo holds a 3-2 edge.

Margarita guard Gelvis Solano will be a key factor after scoring 19 points on 29 minutes in Tuesday’s loss and adding seven assists in Monday’s defeat. Over his last 10 games, Solano has averaged 9.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting 38% from the field.

Carabobo’s Eric Romero has been productive in the recent series. He posted 13 points and seven rebounds in Tuesday’s win and recorded 10 rebounds in Friday’s loss. The 6-foot-5 guard has averaged 9.3 points and 6.3 rebounds over his last eight games.

In Tuesday’s game, Margarita’s Juan Guerrero added 12 points and nine rebounds, and Pedro Chourio grabbed eight rebounds. For Carabobo, Donta Smith contributed nine points, six rebounds and five assists, while Jhornan Zamora had four points and five rebounds.

Margarita’s most recent road win came May 1 at Miranda, 99-67. The Guaiqueries have lost three of their last five overall. Carabobo has won three of its last four at home.

The game is the final regular-season meeting between the two teams. A win for Carabobo would strengthen its hold on second place, while a Margarita victory would pull them even in the loss column.