STOCKHOLM, 12 September 2003 — Ramunas Siskauskas and Sarunas Jasikevicius combined for 48 points as Lithuania beat Serbia & Montenegro 98-82 on Wednesday, knocking the reigning World and European champions out of the 2003 continental title chase in Sweden.

Siskauskas led all scorers with 27 points and Jasikevicius also added 11 assists and four rebounds as the 2000 Olympic bronze medalists ran circles around the Serb defense for much of the quarterfinal showdown in Stockholm’s Globe Arena.

Arvydas Macijaukas added 20 points and seven rebounds as the two-time winners Lithuania — looking for their first title since 1939 — shot 54 per cent overall in front of 9,252 fans in the Swedish capital.

The eight-time winners Serbia & Montenegro, who captured the 2001 European title in Istanbul under the Yugoslavia flag, were paced by 17 points by Djuro Ostojic and 14 each by Milan Gurovic and Marko Jaric.

Jaric also chipped in seven rebounds, but it was not enough as the Serbs short bench was shortened with the injury of captain Predrag Stojakovic, who sprained an ankle in his team’s victory Monday against Turkey.

“The absence of Peja (Stojakovic) was a big ordeal”, Serb coach Dusan Vujosevic said. “We lose together as a team. But I’m the coach and I take responsibility for this.”

Siskauskas said his side was happy to see Stojakovic remain on the sidelines: “It was good for us. But we were ready to play with him in the lineup. So it didn’t change our preparations”. Serbia & Montenegro looked all but dead on Wednesday, trailing 80-60 earlier in the fourth period. But the defending champions went on a 16-0 run to close it to 80-76 before the Lithuanians finished with an 18-6 run of their own.

“We weren’t smart enough to get another basket, said Serb guard Milos Vujanic. “What happened today is a shame for Yugoslavia basketball”, Vujanic added.

In tomorrow’s semifinals, Lithuania will face France, who earlier saw San Antonio guard Tony Parker score 18 points and Boris Diaw tally 14 in a 76-69 victory against Russia. Parker - named Player of the Game - added three assists and three rebounds as France fought off a late Russian rally to make the final four.

The French also had 12 points and 11 rebounds from Toronto draft pick Jerome Moiso. France opened the fourth quarter with a 7-2 run to open a 15-point lead. But Russia scored 11 straight points to make it 70-66. Moustapha Sonko of France then hit five of six free throws in the final minute as the French outlasted the Russians.

Utah Jazz star Andrei Kirilenko attempted to keep the Russians in the game, scoring 22 points and collecting six rebounds and five steals. Viktor Khriapa scored 13 points and Vassili Karassev added 12.

76ers Retool Front

Office, Hire Trainers

The Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday promoted personnel men Tony DiLeo and Courtney Witte to new positions and hired a new training staff. DiLeo was promoted to senior vice president and assistant general manager of the National Basketball Association club, and Witte was elevated to director of player personnel, 76ers President Billy King announced.

“These moves complete the reshaping of the basketball operations department,” King said. DiLeo has been with the Sixers for 13 seasons, spending the last four as player personnel director.

He also served as director of scouting and an assistant coach. Witte has been with the team for five years, the last two as director of scouting.

Heat Re-Sign Forward

Malik Allen

In Miami, Florida, forward Malik Allen, one of the National Basketball Association’s most improved players last season, was re-signed Wednesday by the Miami Heat. Terms were not disclosed. Allen was a restricted free agent who received a qualifying offer before July 1. Allen averaged 9.6 points and 5.3 rebounds with a team-leading 128 blocks in 78 games last season, his second in the NBA.

Those numbers all represented a quantum leap from his 2001-02 rookie season, when he averaged 4.3 points and 3.2 rebounds in just 12 games.

After losing center Alonzo Mourning in free agency, the Heat have tried to fortify their frontcourt, signing free agents Samaki Walker, Loren Woods, John Wallace, Udonis Haslem and Jerome Beasley, who will vie for roster spots behind Allen and Brian Grant.

Miami also signed free agent forward Lamar Odom, who plays more on the perimeter than the interior.