Leo Austria on the challenges of the San Miguel Beermen this season

MANILA, Philippines – When basketball fans talk about the San Miguel Beermen nowadays, they are lumped in the category of NBA champions, the Golden State Warriors, on the strength of its All-Star cast and national team players. Hence, they are expected to not only compete but also to win another PBA championship.

There’s five-time league Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo, current and recent national team call-ups Marcio Lassiter, Alex Cabagnot, and Arwind Santos, and Chris Ross who is a three-time PBA All-Star with the Beermen. And recent additions Christian Standhardinger and Terrence Romeo 

Leo Austria, who is on his fifth year as head coach of the Beermen knows all about the pressures that come with handling the country’s preeminent ball club. He has won six championships in the past 12 conferences making him the winningest in the same time frame.

It is easy to say that having the best players translates into a championship. One unknown tidbit is how his DNA is hardwired to SMB’s distant past. When Austria was still in the amateur circuit, he played for the late Ron Jacobs’ Northern Consolidated Cement team in 1982. Like Austria, many of Jacobs’ former players went into coaching – Joel Banal, Allan Caidic, Jerry Codinera, Ed Cordero, Chip Engelland, Itoy Esguerra, Pido Jarencio, Frankie Lim, Franz Pumaren, Al Solis, Jong Uichico, and Tonichi Yturri to name a few – he picked up a thing or two from the American coaching wizard. 

One of the first things Austria did was to define each of his then-players’ roles on the team; something he picked up from Jacobs who later coached San Miguel. And one of them that has turned the Beermen’s fortunes around was to make Fajardo the focal point of the offense. It wasn’t an easy sell. But the idea was to get high percentage shots with literally their biggest asset. 

One might find it strange as Austria was a shooting guard during his time, but this clearly illustrated his own philosophies having changed over time. 

Yet know this… in all of Austria’s stops – Chowking/Shark and Welcoat in the PBL, Adamson in the UAAP, SMB in the ABL, and Welcoat, Shell, and SMB in the PBA – he’s applied that. And curiously, save for Shell, he’s had five players winning the MVP Award. And four of those five MVPs are centers – Rommel Adducul with Welcoat, Ken Bono with Adamson, Asi Taulava with SMB in the ABL, and of course, June Mar Fajardo with SMB in the PBA. The lone non-center? Roger Yap with Shark. 

“Understanding everyone’s roles is important,” pointed out Austria. “You cannot have to number one players who will get that ball. But that doesn’t mean the others do not have a role on the offense. It is all about making good decisions on the court and being ready when you are called by the coach.”

There are some similarities to the situation of Adamson and SMB when Austria arrived. Both teams were underachieving. In his first year with Adamson, he brought the Falcons to the UAAP’s Final Four with Bono completely turning his game around. It has been the same with the Beermen. 

And speaking of non-centers, one crucial move was to install Ross as the starting point guard. It with the Beermen where Ross found a home and well, stardom. 

“I cannot say that I stick to one philosophy,” clarified Austria. “I have to adjust to who our personnel and who is playing well. Within the team, I make sure that there is healthy competition among the players. I want them to push each other to be the best and to earn their playing time. With a team like ours, we will have players who were probably starters on their college or other pro teams, but they need to find their place within.”

Austria pointed out to balik-Beerman Ronald Tubid who was a star with the University of the East and Barangay Ginebra before becoming a key reserve and defensive stopper with San Miguel. “Ronald understood his place within the team and he realized the role given to him was important. It is the same now with Kelly Nabong with us.”

Perhaps the biggest addition is 6’8” Christian Standhardinger; one so versatile that his addition gives SMB so much flexibility. He can start alongside June Mar which means sliding down Santos to the three and Lassiter to the two. He can spell Fajardo. He runs the fastbreak and doesn’t need plays called for him. “Aside from Christian’s obvious talent and flexibility, I would say his biggest asset is his attitude,” noted Austria. “He doesn’t mind not getting the ball and he will pass the ball.” 

It is easy to say that you put this team on the floor and they will win. The opening day loss to Columbian Dyip is a rebuttal to that. “You have to do a lot of coaching and managing this team,” observed the multi-titled coach with a smile. “There is no truth you don’t coach in the pros and only turn the ball over to the players.”

During the Beermen’s 99-91 win over Barangay Ginebra last Sunday, January 20, Standhardinger and Ross led the team, but Austria pointed out to the key defense played by Santos and Von Pessumal stepping up when inserted into the starting line-up.

Now one key plot that everyone is watching keenly is how Austria will integrate the moody genius that is Terrence Romeo. Obviously, the Talk ‘N Text experiment did not work. “He is a three-time PBA scoring champion,” said Austria. “We really look forward to see how he can contribute to our team. I think he knows the situation he is coming into where this is an established, veteran, and champion team. He will find a way to integrate himself and contribute.”

And being with the Beermen gives Romeo the best possible opportunity to win that title that has evaded him not only at Talk ‘N Text and GlobalPort, but also back with FEU.
“I think that people realize by now it is all about winning a championship and not who scored how many points,” summed up Austria. “That’s how people will remember you.”