MANILA (FIBA Asia Championship/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - After a breathtaking game that will go down as an all-time classic, the Philippines have qualified for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Without the services of injured star Marcus Douthit for most of the game, the host nation took every shot Korea could throw at them before prevailing 86-79 in the second Semi-Final at the FIBA Asia Championship.

The Koreans charged back from a nine-point deficit to take the lead in the final term, but Ranidel de Ocampo (11 points, 6 rebounds), Jason 'Castro' William (17 points) and Jean Marc Pingris (16 points, 10 rebounds) made big plays to keep the host nation's head above water.

Then, as the tension reached boiling point, crowd favourite Jim Alapag buried two enormous three-pointers in the final minutes to seal victory.

For Korea, Kim Mingoo was simply superb with 27 points on 60 per cent shooting.

Korea's clever use of the ball-screen tested the home team's defense early, and only three quick buckets from Castro kept the Philippines in touch.

Korea were putting on a fast-break clinic as their big men consistently out-sprinted their opponents down the floor, and with Douthit benched the Philippines looked in trouble.

But Pingris defied his hamstring injury to score eight tough points in the final 3:30 of the half to limit the damage to just three points.

Castro then took over after the break, seven quick points sparking his team, and while Korea made a number of big shots, a buzzer-beating dunk from Japeth Aguilar put the hosts clear 65-56 with 10 minutes remaining.

A pair of clutch triples from Kim Mingoo gave the Koreans life early in the fourth. When he completed a four-point play the margin was just one with 4:40 to play, then Lee Seung Jun put Korea in front with a dunk on the next play.

The lead then changed hands on possession after possession like heavyweight boxers exchanging blows, but Korea were finally floored by Alapag's clutch shooting, which brought the roof off the Mall of Asia and fired his team to the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The Philippines will take on Iran in Sunday's Final in a bid to be crowned champions of Asia.

Korea will face Chinese Taipei in the Third-Place Game for the final Asian qualification place at Spain 2014.

For full and in-depth coverage of the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, go to the official website http://manila2013.fibaasia.net.

FIBA