Tigers centre Anstey cited for striking

The NBL has launched an investigation into Melbourne centre Chris Anstey's
ill-tempered elbow on an opponent during the grand final series, with his fate
likely to be decided on Tuesday.
Anstey was cited by the league for striking South Dragons guard Rhys Carter during
game three of the best-of-five grand final series on Sunday.
The Tigers' hopes of fighting back from their 2-1 series deficit would appear over
if Anstey is suspended, which is a strong possibility should the NBL tribunal find
him guilty of the charge.
Any suspension would rule him out of the pivotal game four at the State Netball
Centre on Wednesday night, which Melbourne need to win to take the series into a
deciding fifth game.
A Dragons victory in game four would secure the club their first NBL title, just one
year after they finished last on the table.
Tribunal chairman Ken Madsen spent Monday gathering evidence from witnesses
including Anstey, who was ejected from Sunday's match over the incident which
sparked an ugly all-in brawl.
Anstey was charged after NBL general manager Chuck Harmison viewed video footage of
the incident and decided to refer the matter to the tribunal.
Dragons forward Mika Vukona, who was also ejected from the match following the
melee, escaped any further action.
Dragons coach Brian Goorjian said he was still was planning for Anstey to play
against his side on Wednesday night.
"The incident - we've removed that from the game plan," Goorjian said.
"What decision they make, we'll go with.
"The NBL will handle that. Wherever the cards fall, we'll deal with them."
Tigers coach Al Westover believed the referees' handling of Anstey's running battle
with Carter in the moments before he ultimately elbowed the Dragons guard
contributed to what transpired.
"He didn't do anything," Westover said of Anstey immediately after the match.
"The league has to decide - do you want our big men to stay and play in this country
or do you want to screw them and want them to leave?
"He was hard done by ... I thought the referees let things get a little out of
control. That's why there was a bit of a melee."
But Goorjian said he believed the officials had handled the explosive situation well.
"This series has got high intensity and I think the referees have called a very big
game," Goorjian said.
"What they elected to do (eject Anstey and Vukona) wasn't out of the realms of
reality. It was a decent call."