ADRIATIC LEAGUE - Zadar zinged at home by FMP

ZADAR (Adriatic League) - Zadar's hopes of catching leaders Partizan Belgrade in the regular-season title race in the Adriatic League took a major hit over the weekend when the Croatians lost at home to FMP and Partizan prevailed at rivals Red Star.

Zadar (17-4), who went into the weekend riding a 14-game winning streak in the competition, fell 84-78 at home to FMP after a nightmare start to the game for the home side.

They were outscored 31-11 in the first quarter but did battle back to take the lead in the fourth quarter, only to suffer a home defeat.

FMP (11-10) power forward Zoran Erceg led all scorers with 22 points, while Shammel Stallworth scored 20 in defeat.

The victory was significant for FMP as it put them into the eighth and final qualifying place for the play-offs with five games remaining.

Partizan won 88-81 at Red Star, despite the hosts getting 26 points from Omar Cook.

Milt Palacio had 24 to lead the winners, who improved to a league best 19-2.

Hemofarm leapfrogged Red Star into third place after a 73-66 home win over Zagreb.

Union Olimpija are fifth following their 72-58 triumph over Vojvodina, whose players had gone on strike earlier in the week because of money owed to them by the club.

Buducnost won against Siroki, 70-64, and are sixth.

In the other game, Helios prevailed in a battle of strugglers over Slovan 82-74.

FIBA