Anstey takes third NBL weekly award

Melbourne Tigers star Chris Anstey has sounded a warning to his opposition heading into the business end of the 2005/06 campaign by taking out his third National Basketball League (NBL) Philips Player of the Week award of the season after clinching the honours for Round 19.

Anstey has being in scintillating form in recent weeks, having taken out three of the past four weekly awards.

The 213cm centre was a standout for the Tigers in Round 19, averaging 32.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.0 steals as his side went 2-0 for the week and extended their current win streak to eight games.

Anstey scored a game-high 34 points in the Tigers defeat of the in-form Brisbane Bullets on Friday night. He added nine rebounds, six assists and two steals in that performance. The former NBA player went 19-of-33 from the field as the Tigers recorded a 118-93 road victory over the Bullets, who had previously upset ladder leaders Sydney.

Anstey followed that performance up 24 hours later as the Tigers defeated the injury-depleted Razorbacks 118-92 at ‘The Cage’. Anstey collected a second game-high performance with 30 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

Anstey is the first player to pick up the Player of the Week hatrick for 2005/06 after taking honours in Rounds 16 and 17.

New Zealand’s Rich Melzer, can count himself unlucky not to have picked up the award for the first time after his Round 19 performance helped the Breakers record a rare away-win over Townsville. Melzer averaged 26.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, two assists and 1.5 blocks as New Zealand went 1-1 for Round 19.

Other players in the running for the Player of the Week award for Round 19 included Larry Abney (Townsville), Brad Newley (Townsville), Dave Thomas (Melbourne), Mike Helms (Hunter), Russell Hinder (Hunter), Cortez Groves (Wollongong), Martin Cattalini (Cairns), CJ Bruton (Sydney), Mark Worthington (Sydney), Graeme Dann (West Sydney), Clint Reed (West Sydney), Brian Green (New Zealand), Tony Ronaldson (Perth), Derek Rucker (Brisbane) and Bobby Brannen (Brisbane).

For winning the Player of the Week award this round, Anstey will receive one of Philips latest products.