During his brief time away from coaching, Leo Austria made sure to absorb new knowledge—insights that ultimately helped San Miguel win its 30th championship in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup.
The 2023 coaching break ended up working wonders for Leo Austria.
Austria led San Miguel to nine PBA titles from 2014 to 2022, but slid to the consultant role for the Beermen in favor of Jorge Gallent for the Season 47 Governors' Cup.
While away from actively coaching by the sidelines, the 67-year-old mentor made use of that time for learning.
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“Before I was reinstated as head coach, ibinalik na ako sa team just to oversee what’s really happening. I was fortunate na those times na di ako involved sa team, during that time is [FIBA] World Cup season na ginagawa dito,” said Austria, referring to the FIBA Basketball World Cup which the country co-hosted in 2023.
“I was able to watch most of the games. Every day nasa MOA ako, Araneta, to figure out what's really happening in basketball internationally. And I picked up a lot of things.”
Among the things coach Leo was able to absorb from his World Cup viewing was a renewed defensive philosophy.
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When he was reappointed as SMB head coach in the middle of this season’s Commissioner’s Cup, Austria applied it right away.
“That’s the reason why, if you noticed, our defense is different form the past. From there in-apply ko sa team namin,” he said.
Though the Beermen failed to advance to the playoffs for the first time in a decade in that Commissioner's Cup, they more than made up for it by reclaiming the Philippine Cup crown at the expense of the Grand Slam-seeking TNT Tropang 5G.
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“I keep on watching the game, semifinals, the tendencies of the players, the coaches — it helps a lot,” said Austria, who surpassed Jong Uichico in the all-time list with his 10th PBA championship.
“That’s why itong mga players, pag balik ko as head coach nanibago sila. From Day 1 we’ve gone [back to] basic, from one-on-one to 5-on-5 both on offense and defense. I was able to define the roles of each and everyone.”
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