Austria: SMB streak no ABL title guarantee

San Miguel Beer may boast the league’s longest winning streak, but coach Leo Austria knows the record won’t matter when the Final Four of the Asean Basketball League (ABL) fires off tomorrow.

The Beermen wrapped up their elimination campaign with a phenomenal 16 straight victories—the longest in the league’s four seasons—to claim the No. 1 seed with a 19-3 overall record and the homecourt edge in the entire playoffs.

While keeping the streak alive pumps up the Beermen, Austria said focus should be on improving the team’s game.

“The 16-game winning streak is not a guarantee that we’ll win the championship,” Austria said in yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

“We have to refocus ourselves. The playoffs is a different ballgame. All the other teams have been preparing hard to beat us, that’s why we don’t know what kind of surprises they’ll give us. We have to be prepared.”

The Beermen will take on fourth-ranked Sports Rev Thailand in the best-of-five semifinals starting at 8 p.m. on Thursday at Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.

Defending champion Indonesia will clash with Westports Malaysia in Game 1 of the other series at 7 p.m. on Friday at Mahaka Square in Jakarta.

“Our run in the elimination doesn’t matter now—it’s back to zero,” said the 40-year-old Asi Taulava, the former PBA MVP who still effectively mans the paint along with import Brian Williams.

The Beermen pulled off the amazing run—capped by a triple-overtime thriller over Malaysia, 107-104, last Friday—even minus top gunner Chris Banchero in their last six games.

The Fil-Italian guard, who averaged a team-best 16.4 points and 4.2 assists, is set to suit up anew in the semifinals.

“I’m ready to go,” said Banchero, recovered from a torn tendon on his thigh.