Serbia's Ub Huishan won their second 2023 FIBA 3x3 World Tour event of the season in Manila ©FIBA

Top seeds Ub Huishan defended their men’s International Basketball Federation (FIBA) 3x3 World Tour Manila Masters title in style.

The Serbian team defeated China’s Futian 21-17 in an epic final.

After dominating the 2022 season and winning the first 2023 3x3 World Tour event, the Utsunomiya Opener, Ub entered the final as favourites.

But they were pushed all the way by a team boasting new recruits Dimeo van der Horst and Thibaut Vervoort.

Both men played their part in bringing their new team back into contention after Ub had taken an early 7-3 lead.

But in the end the power and experience of Utsunomiya MVP Strahinja Stojacic and Marko Brankovic proved irresistible as Ub won their tenth successive World Tour game.

Stojacic, who finished with six points, earned a second MVP award.

In the individual contests Riga’s Miroslav Pasajlic won the Maurice Lacroix Shoot-Out contest and Filipino David "Air" Carlos claimed the Chooks Dunk contest.

A second Chinese team, Beijing, finished third in the Manila standings ahead of San Juan from Puerto Rico, Amsterdam HiPro and Japan's Utsunomiya.

The 3x3 World Tour will continue with the Marseille Masters from June 30 to July 1, following the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2023.