SAN Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria rued his team’s failure to follow instructions especially in the endgame of the Beermen’s 111-106 loss to Rain or Shine in Game Three of their Smart Bro-PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series on Saturday night.
The Beermen nurtured an eight-point lead entering the fourth quarter, but faltered down the stretch to suffer their first back-to-back losses this season.
“I told them frankly that we need discipline to execute everything we tackle in practice, dahil there are players na hindi ginagawa, especially yung last play namin na supposed to be hindi ganun yung mangyayari, but hindi nasunod,” Austria said after emerging from the team dugout.
The champion coach was referring to one of their offensive plays off a timeout within the last 21 seconds that started on the post with June Mar Fajardo, but wound up with Marcio Lassiter taking a missed teardrop shot that led to a loose ball foul, two free throws, and a possession for the Elasto Painters
“It could be the big difference and the turning point of the game,” Austria said, revealing the play was designed for Fajardo.
“It’s always June Mar,” Austria said. “I know they’re having a hard time to stop June Mar, but our problem is our perimeter shooting, the decision making namin ay very poor.”
Austria warned his players next time they refuse to follow orders.
“I told them don’t underestimate me as a coach,” he said. “I’m not the kind of coach na talagang ipamumukha sa kanila or mumurahin sila, or ganyan, but don’t underestimate me dahil marunong rin ako magalit, sabi ko sa kanila.”
“Ayaw ko isipin na inaabuso ko yung authority ko as a coach because I want to be a father or a friend to them dahil this is our team, but nawawala na yung disiplina namin to execute the plays,” he added.
“Wag na nilang hintaying magalit ako dahil tao lang ako, pwede rin ako magalit,” the affable coach said. “I could gamble my career because ever since, I’ve been a disciplinarian.”
Still, Austria remains upbeat as long as the Beermen play smart basketball.
“It’s not too late. Intelligent basketball ang kailangan namin.”