Actions speak louder than words as Austria ‘walks out’ of Beermen dugout

Head coach Leo Austria. Photo from pba.inquirer.net

MANILA, Philippines —Usually loquacious, head coach Leo Austria offered few words for his San Miguel Beermen following their latest and most jarring loss yet — an 80-77 setback to the erstwhile winless Blackwater Elite.

Austria, according to team captain Arwind Santos, had a brief talk with the team after the loss but “walked out” of the dugout immediately.

Reporters caught up with Austria, who has a reputation of being accommodating to the media, as he and his assistants left the room but he declined for an interview.

Santos said everyone inside the locker room were “down” and that Austria felt “ashamed” of the defeat that sent the league’s winningest franchise to its worst start since the 2007 Fiesta Conference where it lost its first six games.

Santos, speaking in behalf of his teammates, said he understands the coaches’ decision to leave the dugout abruptly.

And if anything, the walkout was a message for the players to respond to.

“Ang pinulot ko sa sinabi niya proud na proud siya dahil nag-champion ang team na ‘to, pero embarrassed siya sa nangyayari sa amin,” Santos said after scoring 11 points on 4-of-18 shooting from the field. “Kapag nakakaintindi ka, kailangan gumawa ka ng paraan para maging proud ulit ang mga coaches mo sa’yo.”

(What I got from what he said was he was very proud of us when we won the championship, but he’s embarrassed with what’s happening with us right now. If you can understand that, then you need to make a way to make your coaches proud again.)

Arwind Santos. PBA Images/Nuki Sabio

A pair of losses to the Kia Carnival and the Barangay Ginebra Kings, who were both 0-2 before facing the Beermen, may have hurt them in the standings, but the loss to the Elite had the most impact.

“Nung una at pangalawang talo namin, hindi pa kami nasaktan eh,” Santos said. “Pero kanina, naramdaman ko na nasaktan kami sa pagkatalo sa Blackwater. Sana ito na yung maging springboard namin para bumalik sa taas.”

(During the first two losses, we weren’t that hurt. But the loss earlier to Blackwater really hurt us. Hopefully this becomes a springboard for us to bounce back on.)

A proven veteran and a designated leader of the team, Santos knows the bulk of responsibility rests on his shoulders.

And as for how the Beermen will be able to get back on their feet, it starts with him.

“As captain, I will do everything to fix our team,” he vowed.

The 33-year-old Santos did everything he could to help San Miguel win its first Philippine Cup championship in 14 years and he wound up lifting the Finals MVP trophy as well.

Austria may have walked out of the San Miguel locker room on Wednesday without anything much to say, but his message was heard loud and clear.

RELATED STORIES

First win felt like a championship for Blackwater players

Blackwater finally wins, sends San Miguel to stunning 0-3 start