SMB hits right key

The powerhouse lineups have been a San Miguel trademark in the PBA, but getting these stars to play together as one solid unit has always been a question mark.

And coach Leo Austria faced those doubts early in his career at the helm of the Beermen. Three years on, he seems to have figured it all out.

His stars may be playing reduced roles but, together, they were an unstoppable force. On Sunday night, they bagged a third straight Philippine Cup crown at the expense of Barangay Ginebra.

But while the Beermen became just the second team—after Talk ‘N Text—to collect the Jun Bernardino Perpetual Trophy, Austria also posted a coaching achievement, staying unbeaten in a finals series since taking over the team in 2014.

It didn’t come easy for Austria, who got the job at a time when the Beermen were battling speculations of disunity.

“The first thing I did was to talk to the key players,” he said. “I told them that my priority was for June Mar Fajardo to get the ball at the post. I was able to define the roles of the players. That’s why the team is like a family now.”

Ginebra coach Tim Cone paid tribute to Austria even before the finals series began.
“It takes a special coach to get all those stars to play together, and coach Leo has done a great job in doing that,” said Cone, holder of a record 19 PBA championships.

“It takes a lot of sacrifice, discipline and understanding,” Austria said of his winning formula. “It’s not easy to develop a team like this, especially my starters. I keep on hearing that these five players are the best starters in the league. Maybe not, maybe yes, but if you think about the camaraderie and effort, I think they are.”

The 6-foot-10 Fajardo, the league’s reigning Most Valuable Player, was a dominant force, attracting the fiercest of the Gin Kings’ defense.

Chris Ross, however, was the catalyst of the Beermen’s play on both ends and his stat line—12 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds, six steals—will go down as one of the finest in a title-clinching victory.

Ross, the first player to win Finals MVP in the PH Cup for two straight years, has established a special relationship with Austria, whom he sees as a father figure.

Austria said his latest crown is “the highlight of my career.”

“All the best players and coaches are here and I won four titles in seven conferences, so I think God is good,” he said.