LEO Austria is grieving the death of the man who gave him his biggest break in coaching.
Former Chowking team manager Jessie Chua passed away last Saturday at the age of 84. He was credited for paving the way for Austria’s coaching career.
Austria was deputy coach to Bai Cristobal before Chua took a gamble in 1998 when he decided to replace Cristobal with the now San Miguel Beer head coach.
READ Austria pays final tribute to Chowking founder
Chua actually got Austria’s services after Hapee Toothpaste took a leave of absence in 1997.
“Si Boss Jesse ang kumuha sa akin (from Hapee) kasi nawalan ng players dahil umakyat sa MBA (Metropolitan Basketball Association),” recalled Austria, who was then a playing assistant coach under Junel Baculi.
His maiden stint with the fastfood chain resulted in a championship during the 1999 VisMin Cup, a side event in the Philippine Basketball League, where Chowking beat Red Bull for the title, 69-60.
“Sila Allen Patrimonio, Mark Victoria, Gerard Ortega ang mga notable players ko,” said Austria.
It was also during his stint with Chowking that he got the chance to handle the likes of Chris Calaguio, Ronald Magtulis, Egay Echavez, Joel Co, Cesar Romero, Danny Aying, and Roger Yap.
“Meron time na nag-coach ako ng juniors, women’s at men’s team ng Chowking na sabay-sabay pumasok ng playoffs,” said the veteran coach, recalling that the PBL then had junior and women’s tournaments under former commissioner Yeng Guiao.
Unfortunately, Chowking - owned by former PBL chairman Robert Kuan - never got to win a championship in the amateur ranks until its franchise was sold to Shark Energy Drink.
Austria rises
But while the franchise faded into the sunset, Austria’s star shone brightly.
He was commissioned by Shark of team owner Dioceldo Sy to handle the team and eventually, won two championships in four finals appearances.
That opened the door for more opportunities for the 1985 PBA Rookie of the Year.
Austria also coached Welcoat to championships in the PBL before finally stepping into the PBA by handling his former team Formula Shell.
He also mentored the Adamson Falcons in the UAAP, the then new PBA franchise Rain or Shine, San Miguel in the Asean Basketball League, before finally landing the job as coach of the Beermen, where he has won 10 championships from 2015 until now.
All of these, Austria owes to the late and animated Chowking team manager.
“Very grateful talaga ako sa kanya,” he said of Chua.
A former movie producer, Chua incidentally was also credited for launching the action career of now Senator Lito Lapid when he cast him in his first starring role in the 1978 film The Jess Lapid Story.
Other movies produced by Chua under Mirick Films include Kalibre 45, Tom Cat, Kapatid ni Hudas, Rosang Tatoo, Prinsipe Abante, among others.
[The remains of the former Chowking official lie at Room 207 St. Peter Chapels in La Loma, Caloocan City.]
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