FMP Zeleznik has done what few expected this week, taken a share of first place in Group B after beating Opel Skyliners 59-68 Wednesday on the road in Frankfurt. The victory, combined with previously undefeated Pamesa Valencia's loss on Tuesday in Roseto, means Zeleznik's 5-1 record ties the Spanish team for first place. Opel Skyliners, meanwhile, is alone with 2-4 at the fifth place and now has complicated its way to the next round. The scoring leader for the winners was center Goran Nikolic with 17 points. Reggie Freeman contributed 14 more and veteran guard Veselin Petrovic 12. Ognjen Akrabic was Zeleznik's best rebounder, pulling down 9 boards. Opel Skyliners was led by center Mario Kasun with a double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds, while newcomer Ray Weathers scored 10 as the only other home team player in double digits.

Zeleznik came out running in the first period and took short early leads until a 13-19 advantage at the end of the first quarter. The home crowd of 4,570 fans tried to inspired Opel to some incredible defensive intensity during the second period. The German team ripped off a partial score of 23-8, seeming to take defenitive control of the game with a 36-27 edge at the break. But something happened in the lockerrom that was good for the Yugoslavs and not so good for Opel. The game completely turned around during the third period. The aggressive fullcourt defense of FMP forced Frankfurt into several turnovers and to force itself when trying to find solutions. On the contrary, Zeleznik just decided to give the ball inside to Nikolic and to find whatever good baskets it could in the open court after its defense forced steals. The visitors' run was near that of Opel in the second quarter, 4-17, and after 30 minutes, it was anybody's game with 40-44 on the board. In the last period, both team were nervous. To win was very important for Skyliners, and the big pressure no doubt weighed on German team. Skyliners were never able to retake the head, while the Yugoslav had a good accuracy form the line to manage the score until the final nine-point advantage.