GRANDSLAM SEEKER. San Miguel Beer head coach Leo Austria (right) discusses his team's preparations for the upcoming PBA Governor's Cup, during the 36th TOPS “Usapang Sports” Forum at the National Press Club in Intramuros, Manila on Thursday (August 22, 2019). Austria said the team's upcoming participation in a Macau tournament next month will boost San Miguel Beer's bid for a grand slam finish this year. Also in photo is TOPS president Ed Andaya. (PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.)
MANILA -- After winning the PBA All-Filipino and Commissioner’s Cup, San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria feels there’s nothing else left to do but to seek the elusive triple crown in basketball.
An eight-time champion in five years with the Beermen beginning 2014, Austria knows it can be done.
“Yun na talaga (grand slam) ang target namin ngayon. Pipilitin namin na manalo uli ng isa pang championship sa PBA Governor’s Cup para maka-grand slam (That’s our target now. We do our best to win (another) title to become grand slam (champion),” said Austria during his rare appearance in the 36th “Usapang Sports” by the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) at the National Press Club in Intramuros on Thursday.
“Walang dahilan para hindi kami mangarap. Ito yung hinihiling sa atin ng karamihan, lalo na ng mga San Miguel Beer fans. Ito yung hinihiling sa atin ng management. Malaking karangalan ito para sa aming lahat(There is no reason for us not to dream. This everybody’s dream, especially the fans and management. This would be a big honor for all of us),” added Austria during the weekly forum sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, National Press Club, Pagcor, Community Basketball Association and HG Guyabano Tea Leaf Drinks.
“This will be our legacy,” said the 61-year-old Austria, who has steered San Miguel to eighth PBA championships since becoming its head coach in 2014.
But Austria, also a three-time Baby Dalupan “Coach of the Year” awardee by the PBA Press Corp from 2015-2017, admitted the road to the elusive grand slam could be long and hard.
“As I’ve always said, hindi ito magiging madali para sa amin (it would not be an easy task for us). We have to take it one game at a time. A lot of teams are really very competitive and they will surely try to stop us in completing the grandslam,” he said.
“I keep (on) telling them (players) that it will require a lot of hard work in winning another championship. They know it and they are ready for the challenge,” he said.
Austria said there is enough time for the Beermen to prepare for the coming import-flavored PBA Governor’s Cup unlike in the recent Commissioner’s Cup, where they barely made it to the playoffs as the No 7 seed against NorthPort.
“Yung heart of a champion, yun experience ng mga players hindi naman nawala kahit hindi naging maganda ang panimula namin sa (heart of a champion, experience of the players were still there even we have bad start during) Commissioner’s Cup,” Austria said.
He said the turning point of their rollers-coaster campaign came when they decided to give former Best Import winner Charles Rhodes the pink slip and bring in Chris McCullough midway in the elimination round.
“He really helped us a lot in this campaign,” said Austria, recalling the Beermen’s three straight wins with McCullough that helped them secure the No. 7 seed after the elimination round.
Austria, the PBA Rookie of the Year in 1985, also had kind words for Terrence Romeo, who was able to adjust well with his teammates and played his role with the team.
“Sa totoo lang, lahat naman ng mga players namin alam ang kani-kanilang mga role sa team kaya hindi kami nahirapan makabawi. (In fact, all our players have different role in the team that’s why we’re able to bounce back). Terrence also realized he can’t do it alone, so he adjusted to the team’s system.”
As part of San Miguel’s preparations for the coming PBA Governor’s Cup, Austria and the Beermen will participate in the Terrific 12 East Asia Super League invitational basketball championship in Macau on Sept. 17-22.
Also taking part in the same tournament is San Miguel’s rival, Talk N Text.
“Kasama na din ito sa gagawin naming paghahanda para sa (This is part of our preparation for) PBA Governor’s Cup,” claimed the Sariaya, Quezon-born Austria. (PR)
