Austria rues squad’s lack of discipline

AUSTRIA: Bad play

SAN MIGUEL Beer is two losses shy of being dethroned as the PBA Philippine Cup champion, and coach Leo Austria is blaming his Beermen’s predicament on their lack of discipline.

Austria didn’t call out a single player, but rued one play that caused San Miguel’s 111-106 Game 3 loss to Rain or Shine on Saturday night.

“I told them frankly that we need discipline to execute everything we’ve been tackling in practice, because there are players who don’t have the discipline to do it,” Austria told reporters. “Especially our last play, which wasn’t supposed to run like that.”

Austria was obviously referring to Marcio Lassiter, who launched a tear-drop shot and missed. That bungled San Miguel offensive, with the Beermen just a point behind at 106-107, eventually led to four straight Chris Tiu free throws on the other end.

The play was supposed to be for June Mar Fajardo, who failed to get a touch.

Though Austria really didn’t look mad, he sounded upset enough.

“I told [the players] to not underestimate me as a coach,” he said. “I am not the kind of coach who would curse them in public … but I also know how to get mad.”