Break out!

Much improved.
(Photo credit to PBA.Inquirer.net)

We have always paid more attention to the PBA's first and opening conference, the Philippine (All Filipino) Cup more than the other two if only because it is the true showcase of Filipino basketball talent and skill on the professional level. Once the imports come into play in the next two conferences, a lot of our guys are pushed aside in favor of those admittedly amazing athletic specimens most of whom have played the sport on an entirely different level from our homegrown guys.

Now that the PBA Philippine Cup is nearing its conclusion, please allow us to praise some of the guys who outdid themselves this conference. It would be quite easy to talk about the Junemar Fajardos, Greg Slaughters and Jayson Castros, so let us turn the spotlight to the unheralded players who put up (near) superstar numbers shall we? The jury is out if the guys that we will mention below will be able to carry over their success once the foreign reinforcements arrive so this shout out piece is probably the best that we could do for them at the moment.

1. Sean Anthony, SF/PF, NLEX
20ppg 12rpg 3apg
What a conference has it been for the returning Road Warrior. Anthony enjoyed a career conference through sheer hard-work and tenacity. The offense wasn't exactly built around him but rather, he was just outworking everyone for rebounds, possessions and what not. You could say that in a way, he looked like what Meralco hopes Cliff Hodge would be-- a nicer, TV friendly Calvin Abueva (minus the guard skills of course, but who knows, if Anthony puts his head into it anything is possible right?).