Anthony plays Santa for SMB, Alaska

SEAN ANTHONY, a goat the last time out, was a hero like no other as the NLEX Road Warriors supplied an unexpected twist just before the curtains fell on the elimination round of the Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup on Saturday.

After blowing an undergoal stab that allowed Barangay Ginebra to escape with a 91-90 decision last week, Anthony redeemed himself with a career- and season-high 37-point sizzler as the Road Warriors ran over the heavily favored Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 110-106, last Saturday.

While the shock win didn’t improve the Road Warriors’ standing in the quarterfinal playoffs, the setback was a big blow to the Elasto Painters, who earlier had been conceded the first of two outright semifinal berths as the only team to conquer the two other top semifinal prospects—the San Miguel Beermen and the Alaska Aces.

All the Painters had to do was slip past the Road Warriors to join the Beermen and the Aces on top at 9-2, secure the No. 1 slot with the higher quotient and forge an SMB-Alaska playoff for the No. 2 berth. They’ve turned back far tougher foes and even led by as much as 13 this time. But they didn’t reckon Anthony playing Santa Claus for the Beermen and the Aces.

With NLEX trailing 100-104 with barely three minutes left, Anthony went to work, firing the last eight points of NLEX in a 10-2 run that toppled the Painters. He delivered the last four points in a 31-second span, with the final basket a fastbreak layup he converted after a steal by Mac Cardona off Jeff Chan.

After the free semifinal ride, Alaska coach Alex Compton minced no words thanking the Road Warriors.

“I’ve never been a bigger fan of NLEX than I am right now,” he said.

The Painters, who finished with an 8-3 card, remained favored to join the Beermen and the Aces in the Final Four but they now have to work their butts off instead of enjoying the holidays with their families and friends.

At No. 3, they resume their campaign against the Blackwater Elite, who downed the Mahindra Enforcers, 108-99, in a historic clash of expansion teams seeking the last quarterfinal slot yesterday.

Blackwater made it to the playoffs for the first time at 3-8 with Mahindra winding up 11th at 2-9 and Meralco last at 1-10.

Barangay Ginebra later advanced as No. 4 after repulsing TNT, 91-84. The Gin Kings tied the GlobalPort Batang Pier at 7-4 but were ranked ahead due to the winner-over-the-other rule. The Texters ended up at 6-5.

Rain or Shine will also enjoy a twice-to-beat bonus in the first phase of the playoffs against Blackwater along with Ginebra, GlobalPort and TNT but it will be do-or-die when the four initial quarterfinal winners dispute the two remaining semifinal slots in the next phase.

The Gin Kings will next face the Star Hotshots, the Batang Pier will tangle with the Barako Bull Energy while the Texters will oppose the Road Warriors in the other quarterfinal pairings. The quarters start on Christmas Day.

It will be the RoS-Blackwater winner against the survivor of the Ginebra-Barako match in the next phase of qualifying while the two other victors collide in the other knockout duel to complete the four-team cast of the semifinals, scheduled to start on Jan. 4.