Anthony: From goat to hero in a jiffy

Sean Anthony. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

SEAN Anthony, devastated the last time out, has transformed his fortunes and those of the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA Philippine Cup.

A game after blowing an easy last-second undergoal shot that could have pipped Barangay Ginebra, Anthony showed his brilliance with an explosive 37-point performance against Rain Or Shine over the weekend.

The feat clinched for the undersized but nifty forward his second Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week award this season.

“Sean is a valuable piece in our system because he can play multiple positions, plus the intensity that he brings inside the court rubs off on his teammates,” said coach Boyet Fernandez after the Road Warriors’ come-from-behind 111-106 win over the Elasto Painters.

Anthony scored his team’s last eight points, including five straight points in the final minute that capped the Road Warriors’ rally from 13 points down and denied Rain or Shine an outright semifinal spot.

His heroics installed the Road Warriors at No. 7 going into the quarterfinals, where it plays sister squad TNT on Dec. 26 at MOA Arena. Seeded sixth, the Tropang Texters enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage over the Road Warriors in their battle for survival.

Anthony averages career-bests 20.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals. He beat Ginebra’s Greg Slaughter and Blackwater’s Mike Cortez for the award.