FIBA ASIA 2013 | Semi Finals | Gilas Pilipinas win vs Korea

Gilas Pilipinas marched its way to the finals of the FIBA Asia Championship by beating South Korea, 86-79, in the semifinals. The win assured the Filipinos an outright berth in the FIBA World Cup in Spain next year. Gilas initially went for a 9-7 lead, before Korea’s shooters started connecting to take the first quarter, 19-15. Jason Castro came up with a string of plays to tie the game 19-all, but the Koreans quashed the rally to regain the lead, 28-21. The first half ended 39-36 with the Koreans ahead. The Nationals fought back early in the third as Castro’s back-to-back baskets had Gilas surging, 42-39. LA Tenorio and Ranidel de Ocampo kept the offense going for the Nationals to make it 56-48. Japeth Aguilar’s slam helped Gilas to extend the lead to 65-56 going into the final period. Korea began hitting its shots again and came within three points, 67-64. Gilas momentarilly halted the run, but the Koreans came back and grabbed the lead 74-73, 4 minutes left. Jimmy Alapag and De Ocampo allowed Gilas to take a one-point breather, 78-77, going into the final 2 minutes. Successive triples from De Ocampo and Alapag eventually allowed Gilas to take the 86-79 win. The victory also allowed the Philippines to vindicate its past heartbreaking losses to Korea, which foiled the country’s campaigns in the 2002 Asian Games and the 2011 FIBA-Asia Championship. Gilas will face Iran in the FIBA Asia Championship title game Sunday. Iran defeated Chinese Taipei, 79-60, in the other semifinal match. GILAS PILIPINAS 86 – Castro 17, Pingris 16, Alapag 14, De Ocampo 11, Tenorio 9, Aguilar 8, Chan 5, Norwood 2, Douthit 2, Fonacier 2, David 0 KOREA 79 – Kim Mingoo 27, Yang 11, Kim Joo-sung 11, Lee SJ 10, Lee J 10, Cho 6, Kim Sunhyung 2, Yoon 0, Kim Jongkyu 0 Quarter-scoring: 15-19, 36-39, 65-56, 86-79