LEO Austria got the call to attend San Miguel Corp.’s Christmas party on Thursday. A day later, he was already back on the Beermen bench not as a team consultant but as head coach of a team he steered to nine PBA titles.
Austria admitted he was shocked and pressured as well when he was asked by management to return to the sidelines in the unlikeliest of occasions in the wake of the Beermen’s 1-2 win-loss start in the Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup.
Winner of nine titles from 2014 to 2022, Austria hinted that it was no less than SMC’s big boss Ramon Ang who spoke to him during the Christmas party.
“Actually, last night [Thursday], we had a Christmas party with San Miguel Corporation,” Austria shared during the postgame press conference after SMB defeated Terrafirma, 106-88, in his first game back on Friday.
“Lahat ng employees (nandoon) and I was invited. Usually, all the players lang ‘yun eh, but I was invited. And all of a sudden, I was called to go upstairs with management,” said Austria.
“And that’s the time that they told me, they asked me if I can coach. Sabi ko, ‘Boss, I’m healthy and I never get sick since I took over at San Miguel,’” said Austria.
“’We are losing, coach,’ sabi niya,” said Austria, recalling the conversation. “And, okay you will be back with the help of coach Alfrancis Chua. Sinabihan nila ako, tomorrow (you will be the head coach), which is today.”
The 66-year-old admitted he couldn’t sleep when he accepted the head coaching job again, which led to Jorge Gallent sliding down to Austria’s previous role as team consultant.
“Hindi ako nakatulog because there’s a lot of pressure. In the PBA, you cannot take lightly ‘yung mga teams. Lahat competitive, you can never know what will happen, just like itong Terrafirma,” said Austria.
“I’m so happy to be back and win my first win after long years on the sidelines,” he added.
Although it was his first game back with San Miguel, Austria said he remains involved in San Miguel’s practices as the consultant while Gallent was the head coach, so he is still very familiar with how the Beermen run things on the court.
Austria said there were also times that he let his players choose their plays, and only stepped in in certain situations such as after timeout plays.
“Actually, I didn’t have a preparation but I’m helping the team to prepare for the game. And then for myself, I didn’t prepare what I want to do. Some pattern off timeouts, doon ko lang ginagawa. It’s really hard. Even though ‘yung kalaban mo ay sinasabi nating kaya naming talunin. But like I said, no team is easy to beat right now,” said Austria.
He also experienced rust in being the head coach on the sidelines.
“A little bit rusty because I’m trying to figure out what’s really happening. Medyo hindi pa nagsi-sink in. Ganito ba, ganito unlike before na every move sa opponent, I know what to do. But today, I just allowed them to run what they want. In some instances during timeout, doon lang ako nag-design ng play for them to know I have something,” said Austria.
Needless to say, Austria already knows that it’s championship or bust in the Beermen camp. Such is the pressure that comes with being the SMB head coach that the veterab coach is willing to experience again.
“May marching order man o wala, the expectation is really high for San Miguel. We are always pressured to win eh. Even though hindi nila sinasabi na you have to win, pero a lot of people are not used to losing when it comes to San Miguel eh.
As far as my knowledge is concerned, we never lost two or three times in a row kaya I’m happy na nanalo kami,” said Austria.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
