Korea grabs last ticket to World Cup

MANILA, Philippines – South Korea still came out full of energy and spirit after its gut-wrenching battle with Gilas Pilipinas Saturday night, blowing past Chinese Taipei, 75-57, to keep third place in the Asian championship and end its own long wait for a return appearance in the world meet.

Reasserting their supremacy over the Taiwanese, the Koreans join the Filipinos and the Iranians as Asian bets in the 17th edition of the FIBA World Cup to be played in six cities of Spain next year.

“We played with a lot of pressure but my players are passionate about Spain and the passion carried us in this game,” said Korean coach Yoo Jae Hak through an interpreter.

“We were watched by our people back home. I’m sure they’re happy we won this game,” Yoo also said.

Acknowledging the Koreans played better, Chinese Taipei coach Hsu Chin Che said they’re satisfied finishing fourth – their best windup in the tourney after cornering third-place honors in China in 1989.

Korea matched its third-place finish in Wuhan in 2011, and the Koreas gained a first World Cup since the 1998 edition in Greece where the East Asian squad finished 16th out of 16 participants.

The team with the second most number of World Cup appearances next to China (eight), the Koreans previously qualified in the worlds in 1970, 1974, 1986, 1990 and 1994.

The Philippines has previously made it there four times, breaking into the medal play and eventually landing third in Brazil in 1954.

The Koreans decked the Taiwanese and foiled Taipei’s bid for a third “WC” stint.

Earlier, China thrashed a badly crippled Qatar side, 96-85, for fifth place while Jordan dumped Kazakhstan, 88-59, for seventh spot.

Before a sellout crowd awaiting the Gilas-Iran championship match at the Mall of Asia Arena, the Koreans had their mini celebration at midcourt after completing their masterful win over the Taiwanese.

Korea wound up with a 7-2 record while Chinese Taipei ended up with a 6-3 slate.

As they did in almost all their matches, the Koreans worked on a sleek, relentless run-and-gun game to dispose of their longtime East Asian rivals.

The Koreans struck hard on transition offense and sprayed the Taiwanese with 11 three-pointers on halfcourt set.

Clutch shooter Kim Mingoo accounted for five treys and added three twinners for 21 points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal.

“He’s a great player,” the Taiwanese coach said of the Korean star.

The scores:

First Game

Jordan 88 -- Abdeen 20, Alfaraj 15, Baxter 12, Al Dwairi 10, Hussein 10, Abu Ruqayah 8, Alnajjar 5, Alhamarsheh 4, Abuqqura 2, Zaghab 2.

Kazakhstan 59 – Yargaliyev 17, Yevstigneyev 9, Klimov 8, Bazhkin 7, Sultanov 5, Johnson 4, Ponomarev 4, Zhigulin 3, Bondarovich 2, Lapchenko 0.

Quarterscores: 30-18, 55-32, 73-44, 88-59

Second Game

China 96 – Guo 21, Wang S. 14, Wang Zhi. 13, Yi 12, Zhu 10, Wang Zhe. 9, Zhou 8, Zhang 4, Sun 3, Liu 2.

Qatar 85 – Elhadary 23, Mohammed 22, Saad 13, Mohamed 13, Daoud 5, Saleem 3, Abdi 2, Ali 2, Saleem 2.

Quarterscores: 20-21, 45-40, 70-55, 96-85

Third Game

Korea 75 – Kim MG 21, Kim JS 12, Cho 11, Yoon 9, Yang 9, Kim TS 7, Kim JK 4, Lee 2, Lee SJ 0.

Chinese Taipei 57 – Lu CJ 13, Davis 12, Tien 8, Tseng 7, Chen 6, Hung 6, Tsai 3, Yang 2, Lin 0.

Quarterscores: 29-13, 50-29, 61-44, 75-57