BRASÍLIA, Brazil (Interstat) — The top-seeded Franca faces UNICEUB on Thursday at Ginasio da ASCEB in a Brazilian NBB matchup that pits the league’s best record against a surging home side.

Franca (43-12) enters on a high after defeating UNICEUB 76-67 on Monday, its third consecutive win in the series. UNICEUB (30-13) has won five of its past seven games but dropped two straight to Franca, including an 83-78 overtime loss on April 14.

Lucas Dias Silva, Franca’s power forward, has been a consistent force. In Monday’s victory, he logged 35 minutes with 14 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and one block. Over his past seven games, Silva has averaged 14.9 points and 5.4 rebounds while playing at least 29 minutes per contest. He posted a season-high 23 points in a 90-102 loss to Mogi das Cruzes on May 13.

For UNICEUB, point guard Facundo Corvalan leads the offense. In Monday’s defeat, he played 37 minutes and recorded 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Corvalan has scored in double figures in eight consecutive games, including a 21-point, eight-assist performance in a 98-90 win at Flamengo on May 10.

The teams have met three times this season, with Franca taking all three. Besides Monday’s win and April’s overtime thriller, Franca won 92-84 on Dec. 27, 2025. In the April game, Franca’s Juan Laterza scored 14 points and dished six assists, while Luis Rodriguez added 10 points.

Franca comes off a 78-77 home win over Mogi das Cruzes on May 15, in which Silva had 14 points and four rebounds. The team split a two-game home set with Mogi, losing 102-90 on May 13 before winning 88-70 and 97-65 on the road May 10 and 8.

UNICEUB last played Monday, and before that swept a two-game home series against Flamengo, winning 72-69 on May 15 and losing 88-96 on May 13. The team also beat Flamengo 98-90 on the road May 10 before falling 83-66 on May 8.

Thursday’s game tips off at 8 p.m. local time. Franca looks to extend its series dominance, while UNICEUB aims to protect home court and avenge three recent losses. Both teams are deep into the postseason race, with Franca holding a comfortable lead atop the standings and UNICEUB fighting for a top-four seed.