San Miguel, then known as Petron, prevented TNT from completing a Grand Slam in the PBA's 2010-11 season. The Beermen can do the same 14 years later in the Philippine Cup Finals.
San Miguel is not out to stop TNT from pulling off a much-coveted Grand Slam.
This was what Beermen coach Leo Austria reiterated during the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals press conference Friday, July 11.
The Beermen simply want to redeem themselves after uncharacteristically failing to reach the playoffs last conference for the first time in a decade.
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“We’re here to redeem ourselves. Especially after the last conference, we’re not able to make it to the playoffs,” Austria said.
“It’s enough for the players to realize that it’s hard to be at the bottom of the standings. That's why at the start of this conference, they realized we need to work hard," he added.
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SMB governor Robert Non share the same view.
“Sa management level, ang lagi lang paalala ay gawin ninyo kung ano ang kaya ninyong gawin to achieve ‘yung goal: championship. We’re not talking about stopping TNT. It’s always the goal of playing your best in every conference,” Non said.
“Kumbaga, kung ipinakita mong lahat at natalo ka, OK lang 'yan, at least ginawa mo ang lahat. Even siguro sa TNT, kung walang mangyari, that’s it. Pero ginawa mo ang lahat.”
Then carrying the Petron brand, the Beermen already denied TNT the rare golden treble during the 2010-11 season.
Head coach Ato Agustin, now one of Austria’s assistant coaches, stopped coach Chot Reyes, Jimmy Alapag and Jayson Castro on their tracks.
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But Austria insisted that repeating history is not exactly on their minds.
“We’re not here to stop their bid for a Grand Slam. We’re here to win games and eventually, the championship. We’ll be honored if that happens,” the nine-time PBA champion coach said.
“I think there are a lot of people who think we’re out there to stop the Grand Slam because of history. But we, as coaches, we just want to win.”