ALBACETE, Spain (Interstat) — Albacete hosts Iraurgi on Sunday in a Spanish Segunda FEB matchup at Pabellon del Parque, with the home team looking to extend its lead atop the standings behind a balanced attack and the versatile play of Silvano Merlo.

Albacete (21-8) enters on a five-game winning streak after a 80-60 victory at Iraurgi on May 10. Merlo, a 6-foot-7 small forward, nearly posted a triple-double in that win with 11 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists over 29 minutes. Over his last three games, he has averaged 11.3 points, 13.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists while shooting efficiently, including a 19-rebound, eight-assist effort May 3 against CDP. His ability to impact the glass and facilitate from the wing makes him a nightly mismatch.

Iraurgi (18-11) sits in the middle of the league table and aims to bounce back from the 20-point loss to Albacete. Center Thierry Sagna led Iraurgi in that game with 10 points and nine rebounds, but the team shot just 38% from the field. Sagna has been a steady presence, posting 17 points and nine rebounds in a 103-75 win over Huesca on May 3, and nine points in a narrow 81-73 loss at Huesca on April 25. His rebounding and interior scoring will be critical against an Albacete frontcourt that features Bernat Vanaclocha, who had 12 points and five boards in the May 10 meeting.

Albacete’s depth has been a key factor in its success. In the last head-to-head, guard Nick Reid poured in 19 points, and the team forced 14 turnovers. The home side also boasts a strong defensive rating, holding opponents under 70 points in four of its last five wins. Iraurgi, meanwhile, has shown offensive firepower — scoring 100 or more points in three of its last four victories, including a 108-101 overtime win over CdG Valle de Egues on March 15. However, consistency has been an issue; Iraurgi lost 95-83 to Leonesa on March 22 and 85-68 to Toledo Basket on March 8.

Tipoff is set for 12:00 p.m. local time. Albacete will look to exploit home-court advantage and solidify its playoff positioning, while Iraurgi needs a statement win to climb the standings. Sagna’s battle with Merlo in the paint and on the perimeter could decide the outcome.