Comebacking Ricci Rivero impressed with a total of 12 points.
But this was not enough for the Philippines to overcome its rival in the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup in China Wednesday evening.
The Philippines absorbed a 16-21 loss to Serbia and a 14-21 beating at the hands of Slovenia in Pool D.
But Rivero still made an impression some three years after playing in the FIBA 3×3 Under 18 World Cup 2015 for the first time. He made heads turn with a pair of flashy eurosteps, his no-look dimes and high-flying blocks.
So far, Serbia's Luka Stefanovic led all scorers in the men's category with 20 points, while Viktoriia Kondus (Ukraine) paced the women's category with 16 points.
China leads Pool C with two straight victories after beating Turkmenistan, 22-6, and Slovenia, 21-17.
Turkmenistan, which is in the same group with the Philippines, upset Serbia, 22-19, to stay in contention with their 1-1 win-loss record.