BOCAUE — Serbia remains the world's 3x3 kings.
The Serbians edged out Netherlands in a low-scoring championship game, 16-13, to complete a hat-trick of men's titles in the Fiba 3x3 World Cup to on Tuesday night at Philippine Arena.
Dusan Bulut, recognized as one of the world's top players in the halfcourt game, led the Serbians with seven points and led a brave fightback after a poor start, with his two-pointer finally putting his side up, 10-9, with 2:11 left.
With the game tied at 11, Stefan Stojacic drained the killer long ball before Marko Savic completed the and-one play as Serbia seized command, 15-11, in the final 1:07.
They held on from there to beat the Dutch for the second straight final.
Stojacic backed up Bulut with four points, Savic added three, and Dejan Majstorovic got a pair as the Serbs won the world 3x3 title for the fourth time in five years.
Jesper Jobse carried the Netherlands with six points, as Sjoerd Van Vilsteren had four in the losing cause.
Slovenia also returned to the podium as it copped the bronze medal with a 21-15 victory over Poland in the battle for third.
The scores:
SERBIA 16 — Bulut 7, Stojacic 4, Savic 3, Majstorovic 2.
NETHERLANDS 13 — Jobse 6, Van Vilsteren 4, Van der Horst 3, Roije 0.