The Melbourne Tigers kept alive their hopes of winning a fairytale NBL premiership title with one of the finest victories in the club's proud history.

Twice looking down and out and countless times looking every inch their age, the Tigers somehow found enough to squeak past Adelaide 36ers 111-107 in a nailbiting quarter final.

The Tigers now advance to a sudden death showdown with the Brisbane Bullets in the Queensland capital on Sunday.

Andrew Gaze led his side with 31 points, including several clutch baskets down the stretch, as the Tigers wound back an eight point deficit with eight minutes left to secure their win.

The Tigers also trailed by 10 points at halftime, with Adelaide's Martin Cattalini carving them up with 25 of his 31 points in the first half.

But after Melbourne drew level early in the third quarter it was game on - the lead changing 11 times through the quarter and the teams locked at 88-all going into the final term.

The game turned Melbourne's way with four and a half minutes left when Gaze landed a big basket to give his side a one point lead.

Then Darryl McDonald's steal on a Dusty Rychart shot followed by another Gaze basket gave the Tigers a three point break.

Sixers guard Brett Maher had a chance to tie up the game in the dying seconds but couldn't find the basket.

The Tigers then won the ball through a foul and Gaze sunk two free throws to seal the game.

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