FOR the third consecutive week, Jamaican seven-footer Jerome Jordan stepped up for Krka Novo Mesto of Slovenia, scoring a team-high 13 points against second-placed Cedevita Zagreb of Croatia on Sunday in the Adriatic League.

However for the third straight week Krka were suffering defeat as Cedevita led all the way to triumph 89-67 at their Dom Sportova indoor sporting arena in Zagreb.

The 25-year-old Jordan hit five of eight field goals and three of five free throws, grabbing eight rebounds, only for Krka to slip to 12th place of the 14-team league.

In fact the bottom three teams on nine points, with Krka only ahead by goal difference.

Jordan scored five points in the first quarter (one dunk and three free throws) as Krka trailed 21-13.

Cedevita opened up their lead in the second quarter, despite a Jordan lay-up, jumper and dunk, to go into half time with a 48-32 advantage.

The Croatian team did not letup in the third quarter, pulling away to 70-48. Jordan contributed a lay-up in this segment and increased his defensive rebounds to five.

In the last quarter, both teams added 19 points, with Cedevita eventually moving up to the top of the ranking with 15 points, the same as new second-placed team Union Olimpija of Slovenia.

Seven-footer Miro Bilan top-scored for Cedevita with 19 points, with Marino Bazdaric named game MVP after scoring 14 points, along with two rebounds, two assists, and four steals.

Zoran Dragic and Allan Ray supported Jordan with 10 points apiece.

In the coming weeks, Krka are expected to move up the standings with matches against 12th placed Crvena of Serbia, seventh-placed Zagreb of Croatia, and 13th placed Domzale of Slovenia.

With an average of 12.1 points per game, Jordan is now the 12th best shooter in the league. David Simon of Serbian team Radnicki, who are in 11th place, is so far the best shooter with 19.8 points per game.

In terms of field goals accuracy, Jordan’s 58.1 per cent puts him in eighth place.