Austria sees twin towers

San Miguel Beer head coach Leo Austria. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Having the best all-Filipino crew of the past three PBA seasons, spearheaded by the most dominant local big man this league has seen in the modern time, San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria is not surprised of the Grand Slam talk this early.

“We’re not actually thinking about that,” Austria told the Inquirer over the phone after gathering some of his reserves on Wednesday afternoon for “an irregular practice” with import Charles Rhodes.

“It’s just like our (Philippine Cup) ‘three-peat,’ it was never in our minds when we started the season,” Austria went on. “But if we get the chance (for the Grand Slam) like the chance we got for the ‘three-peat,’ you know my players, they will fight hardest.”

Even Chris Ross, the Finals MVP of San Miguel’s 4-1 title series victory over Barangay Ginebra in the Philippine Cup, said Grand Slam thoughts will seep into their minds every now and then, especially since the Beermen have already completed a triple crown, but way back in 1989.

“I know the guys are hungry to end that [Grand Slam] spell,” Ross told Sports IQ, the Inquirer’s live sports talk show, recently. “When a franchise hasn’t done something for so long, you want to achieve those things; we’re happy and we want to win and play good ball and hopefully Charles can help us out.”

The Beermen don’t see Commissioner’s Cup action until April 2 and Austria will start regular practices only on Monday.

Austria, who is undefeated in four title series ever since handling San Miguel three seasons ago, thinks he has a good import in the former Korean Basketball League standout.

“He’s the import that we like, someone who plays the inside well,” said Austria. “He will be a good fit because now I can have my twin towers there.”

The other tower Austria was referring to is June Mar Fajardo, the reigning three-time MVP.

Ross is also positive about San Miguel’s reinforcement.

“I talked to him a little bit and he’s excited, that’s the biggest thing,” said Ross. “And he knows we’re coming off a championship and he has big shoes to fill. He really wants to win, he’s really hungry to win. It’s [just about] integrating the import—him not thinking he has to do everything because we have a really good set of locals that will help him out.”

San Miguel has struggled in the Commissioner’s Cup because of import woes.

“I think he (Rhodes) has the right attitude,” Austria said.

Meanwhile, Blackwater suffered a major blow less than a week from its debut after Art Dela Cruz, the Elite’s prized sophomore, tore an Achilles heel in practice with Gilas Pilipinas in Tagaytay on Tuesday afternoon.