SANTO DOMINGO (Interstat) — Soles will look to protect their home court and extend their strong start when they host Diablos Rojos on Friday at Soles Court in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Soles enter with a 15-3 record, while Diablos Rojos are 9-9. The matchup pits one of the league’s top home teams against a visiting side seeking consistency. Soles have been effective in recent weeks, with wins over Dorados, Irapuato, Jal. Astros, Cancun El Calor and Zacatecas. Diablos Rojos have shown scoring bursts of their own, including recent victories over Jal. Astros and a road win over Soles in the most recent meeting between the teams.

That last meeting saw Diablos Rojos earn a 93-84 victory at Soles. Angel Nunez was a central figure for Diablos Rojos, finishing with 19 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and two blocks. Justin Wright Foreman added 20 points, four rebounds and three assists, while Justin Moss contributed 11 points, four rebounds, one assist and one block.

For Soles, Jordan Sakho remains a player to watch. In the most recent meeting, he recorded 15 points, three rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Terrance Campbell scored 17 points and added two assists, while Connor Milton Zinaich posted eight points, nine rebounds, three assists and one block. Sakho has also had productive recent outings, including 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists at Dorados, and four points, six rebounds, one assist and one block in another game at Dorados. He has added efforts of three points, two rebounds and two assists against Panteras, six points and four rebounds against Panteras, and four points, five rebounds and three blocks at Freseros.

Diablos Rojos will counter with Nunez, whose all-around line in the previous meeting underlined his importance on both ends. Diablos Rojos have also picked up recent wins over Jal. Astros by scores of 86-67 and 101-77, following a road split with Zacatecas and earlier splits against San Luis Potosi and Leon.

Soles, meanwhile, have won five of their last seven games, with their only recent setbacks coming against Diablos Rojos and Jal. Astros. Their home court has been a major advantage, and they will lean on Sakho and their balanced scoring to respond after the earlier loss. Soles also earned wins over Dorados by 97-64 and 98-81, defeated Irapuato 92-63, topped Jal. Astros 90-76, and beat Cancun El Calor 89-86 and 102-75.

Interstat’s game simulator is projecting a final score of Soles 92, Diablos Rojos 83. Interstat’s ELO system is projecting Soles with an 85 percent probability to win.