ANTIPOLO – Prior to Saturday's game, San Miguel actually had a chance to choose its quarterfinal opponent for the PBA 50th Season Commissioner's Cup.
There was a scenario where the Beermen would face top seed NLEX in the next round, but in order for that to happen, they had to lose to Phoenix Super LPG and settle as No. 8.
But for head coach Leo Austria, winning is everything - even if it would force them to wait to know who their opponent will be come the quarters.
READ: San Miguel cools down Phoenix to enter QFs with winning momentum
With that, San Miguel defeated the Fuel Masters to finish the eliminations with a 7-5 mark. Now on a three-game winning streak, it will face either Rain or Shine or Meralco up next.
“We don't want to get into the quarterfinals with a loss. Because of our standing, we are really hungry for a win,” he said.
"Nangyari na ito na in our last conference, we were up against Meralco in our last game, whatever happened, win or lose, we are No. 1, but we played to win. We want to be consistent in that kind of attitude."
Respect the game
Austria is aware of talk by outside observers that a potential Beermen-Road Warriors match-up may be more favorable for SMB.
Still, the veteran tactician said he would much rather have his team control its destiny through winning games.
“Marami ngang nagsasabi na if we lose, we face NLEX and more or less, alam na namin kung sino ang kalaban. But we don't want to develop that kind of habit eh, (na) namimili ka ng kalaban. I told the team na let us respect the game, let us be consistent (with) winning attitude. And that's what happened,” he said.
“Hindi mo pa rin alam kung sino kalaban mo, pero bahala na sila (other teams), sila na mag-adjust kung sino makakalaban nila. Pero kami, ang focus nila is the game.”
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