ARE the San Miguel Beermen easing Leo Austria back into an active coaching role amid their struggles this season?
Compared to the previous conferences since Jorge Gallent took over from Austria, the multi-titled coach has become more active on the San Miguel bench as the Beermen search for answers to end a two-conference dry spell.
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Gallent, a former player of SMC sports director Alfrancis Chua in the PBL and PBA, won the 2023-2024 Commissioner’s Cup championship upon assuming the job, but it has been mostly downhill from there for the proud franchise.
But the Beermen lost to the Meralco Bolts in the Philippine Cup Finals, 4-2, last season and were ousted by sister team Barangay Ginebra at the semifinal stage of the season-opening Governors' Cup.
Austria, 66, started becoming more visible in SMB's side of the court last conference and even got some unwanted attention when he figured in a spat with SMB team captain and playing assistant coach Chris Ross.
A source from inside the SMC camp bared that a day after the Beermen lost, 93-107, to independent team Rain or Shine last December 10, management made the decision to give Austria wider latitude on the bench.
The Beermen are off to a woeful 1-2 (win-loss) start to the Commissioner's Cup and should get a respite when they face winless Terrafirma Dyip on Friday in a game that will serve as a preview to the fans on the recent development.
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The Beermen also face another tailender in Blackwater on Sunday.
Amid the Beermen's uncharacteristic slide, some fans have been vocal in demanding a coaching change at San Miguel.
A number of them have not been too happy with Austria's notoriously short rotation at San Miguel during his time in charge, but they insist preference on a proven nine-time champion than a relatively unproven Gallent.
“Yung dati kay Coach Leo, 7 or 8 player rotation tapos puros kay JMF ang bola, pero at least nananalo. Kay Gallent, marami ngang players na naiinvolve at may mga variations ng sets pero palagi namang talo. Balik na lang sa dati. 35 na si JMF. Sulitin na nila habang pwede pa,” commented Romerson Gadil on Facebook.
“San true (ang pagbabalik ni Austria), he deserves it,” added another fan NewChester Chavez.
Another fan declared: “Ay thank you Lord nataohan din pero sympre hanggat di pa official wag mo na magsaya mga ka SMB.”
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