MARACAIBO, Venezuela (Interstat) — The Venezuelan SLB’s top team and its playoff-hopeful rival will meet Thursday night when the Zulia Gaiteros host the Anzoátegui Marinos at Gimnasio Pedro Elias Belisario Aponte.

Zulia (24-5) enters with the league’s best record and has won two of three head-to-head meetings this season, including a 78-77 victory at Anzoátegui on May 6. The Gaiteros are coming off a 100-76 rout of Maracaibo on Sunday, in which forward Nahziah Carter scored 26 points with seven rebounds and four assists. Carter has averaged 20.3 points over his last three games.

Anzoátegui (17-11) has won three of its last four, including an 86-84 home win over Car. Spartans on May 21. Center Malik Dime posted 16 points and 20 rebounds in that game. Dime, who has recorded double-doubles in four of his last five outings, had 10 points and 12 rebounds in the May 6 loss to Zulia.

Tipoff is at 8 p.m. local time.