SAN Miguel coach Leo Austria said he recently underwent an angioplasty after a health scare as he explained his absence from the first three games of the Beermen in the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup.
The multi-titled SMB coach, 68, revealed that he underwent the procedure under renowned cardiologist Tony Leachon after learning that there are blockages in his arteries during a routine check-up.
READ SMB says Leo Austria still coach as he deals with 'health issue'
He made his first appearance in a PBA game on Sunday, but Austria said there is no timetable for him to return to his duties as a head coach during games, adding he has also been advised by San Miguel management to rest.
“It’s a matter of a few games before I go back to coaching,” Austria said on Sunday.
The former PBA Rookie of the Year said he learned about his condition after he underwent a series of tests required by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) for the renewal of his license on June 18.
“We had a medical check-up para maka-comply kami sa renewal ng GAB license. And then, the result, we found out na there’s something wrong with my ECG,” Austria said.
“After a week, nakita namin ‘yung result, and then immediately, pinakita ko sa mga cardiologists, Dr. Tony Leachon and Rommel Galvez,” Austria added.
Austria said Leachon, who happened to be his neighbor, advised him to undergo more tests including an angiogram where it was confirmed that he needed to undergo an angioplasty procedure.
“He said sa akin, you have to undergo a stress test kasi makikita kung anong klaseng puso meron ka. Ini-scan, and then there was something wrong. To confirm everything, kailangan mag-undergo ako ng angiogram and then na-confirm na my arteries [are] blocked,” Austria said.
Austria admitted he was shocked with the result of his tests since the former PBA player regularly plays basketball despite his hectic schedule as San Miguel coach.
At the same time, he considered himself lucky that his condition was discovered and addressed early.
“I’m so lucky because the doctor told me na, 'You are a walking bomb.' Buti hindi ako nag-collapse. My friend Tony Leachon, he has a team sa Manila Doctors, inarrange niya lahat, and then all of a sudden, nagkaroon ako ng angioplasty,” Austria said.
Austria said that after he was released from the hospital on July 9, he already wanted to coach during San Miguel’s opening game of the conference against Macau five days later.
Non puts foot down
But no less than team governor Robert Non advised him to rest.
“Nung first game, I thought ako na magko-coach but buti na lang nandoon si Boss Robert na, ‘No, no, you have to take a rest,’ kasi he experienced that also (angioplasty). Hindi ganun kadali. Nagpapasalamat ako sa kanya and then kila Coach Al (Chua) na binigyan nila ako ng time to rest. I’m so grateful to them,” Austria said.
Austria, an 11-time PBA champion and four-time PBA Press Corps Coach of the Year recipient, said the health scare will not stop him from coaching again.
He intends to go back as soon as he overcomes the side effects of the medicines that he is taking, giving himself three to four more weeks of rest.
“According to the doctor, para kang na-tune up, you can go back to work,” Austria said.
“Mas mahirap ‘yung bypass. Kaya I’m confident na I can go back. It’s just a matter of time, kailangan makabalik ako 100 percent,” said Austria.
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