VENEZUELA SLB PREVIEW: COCODRILOS AT GUAQUERIES

LA ASUNCIÓN, Venezuela (Interstat) — The Superliga de Baloncesto’s top two teams meet for the fifth time in eight days Wednesday when the Caracas Cocodrilos visit the Margarita Guaiqueries at Gimnasio Ciudad de la Asunción.

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

Caracas (24-8) leads the league standings, while Margarita (21-13) sits third. The Cocodrilos have won four of six head-to-head meetings this season, but the Guaiqueries took the last two (Interstat) — 84-69 on May 31 and 72-57 on Monday (Interstat) — both on their home floor.

Cocodrilos guard Luis Montero, a 6-foot-7 swingman, has been a force in the series. In Monday’s loss, he logged 34 minutes and posted 9 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists. Two nights earlier, he had 11 points and 6 boards. In the two previous wins at home against Margarita, Montero averaged 14 points and 14.5 rebounds. Over his last eight games, he has recorded six double-doubles.

For the Guaiqueries, point guard Gelvis Solano has been steady. He contributed 10 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists in Monday’s win and 4 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists in the May 31 victory. In the two losses at Caracas, Solano averaged 15 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4 assists.

Margarita’s recent surge includes a 5-3 mark in its last eight games, with wins over Carabobo as well. Caracas has won seven of its last nine, dropping only the two contests at Margarita.

The Cocodrilos average 79.8 points per game, while the Guaiqueries allow 76.