NOW the PBA’s fourth-winningest coach with 10 titles after steering San Miguel Beer back to the throne of the Philippine Cup last month, coach Leo Austria can only commiserate with the pain felt by TNT in a Triple Crown quest that ultimately fell short.
Austria has been there—nearly winning it all in 2017 and 2019 with the mighty Beermen—and he’s relieved they emerged on the other side of history this time as they slammed the Tropang 5G’s grand slam dreams.
“Before the championship series, during the press conference, tinanong ako ng media, so you’re out there to stop the Grand Slam bid of TNT? Sabi ko ‘No.’ We’re here to win the championship. One game at a time,” Austria said recently on the Power and Play program hosted by former pro league Commissioner Noli Eala.
“The Grand Slam is really the dream of any team, lalo for coaches. But it’s hard because I experienced that also in 2017 and 2019, we had a chance to win the Grand Slam but hindi nangyari.
“Kaya sabi ko mahirap din itong Grand Slam dahil every team, doon sa baba nag-prepare sila just to stop you from getting that kind of achievement,” he added.
The 50th season of Asia’s pioneering pro league is set to kick off in October, still the all-Filipino meet as the first conference and the proud son of Sariaya, Quezon, maintained the best is yet to come for this new-era SMB juggernaut still bannered by reigning eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo.
“It’s a confirmation that I can coach but, you know, coaching is the hardest job in the world because every game, your job is always on the line. Lagi kong sinasabi sa sarili ko na kailangan every game you should be prepared para kung natatalo ka naman, alam nila kung bakit natatalo,” he said. “It’s either mahina ang team mo or nagpapabaya ka. But I want to make it sure that every game for me is very important.
“Iyon ang mahirap. I keep on learning every day, every practice, every game. I keep on watching the game internationally so if there’s something new you can adapt it here.”
