Leo Austria talked about the San Miguel's dominance in the PBA Philippine Cup over the past decade as the Beermen prepare to take on TNT Tropang 5G in the Finals once again.
San Miguel head coach Leo Austria hasn’t lost a PBA Philippine Cup Finals since 2014.
As head coach of the proud franchise, Austria is 7-for-7 in a best-of-seven finale of what is dubbed to be the most prestigious conference in the league.
When asked about the perfect record, the 10-time PBA champion mentor said he isn’t exactly thinking about preserving his perfect record.
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“That’s already the thing of the past. We cannot dwell on the topic,” he told One Sports after the Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals press conference Monday, Jan. 19.
“But our goal is to win the championship. It doesn’t matter kung last seven championships is perfect.”
San Miguel momentarily ceded the All-Filipino crown to Meralco in Season 48, but Jorge Gallent was calling the shots for the Beermen then while Austria was serving as consultant.
When he was reinstated as head coach, Austria helped SMB reclaim the Philippine Cup championship at the expense of TNT. To make it even sweeter, the conquest denied the latter a Grand Slam last season.
Beginning Wednesday, Jan. 21, Austria is staking his pristine Philippine Cup Finals record against, incidentally, Chot Reyes and the Tropang 5G.
Austria said he is putting premium on how to keep his team formidable with the target on their backs in a conference they dominated in over a decade.
“Lagi ko iniisip 'yun kasi alam nila how successful we are sa Philippine Cup. They’re trying their best na ma-dethrone kami,” he said.
“Our mindset is to win another championship — not because we want to continue the streak — every conference is important for us especially the Philippine Cup.”
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.