San Miguel has to adjust for Game 2, says Austria

MANILA, Philippines—San Miguel is off to a disappointing start in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals and head coach Leo Austria hopes his team can adjust just in time to turn the series around.

TNT walloped the Beermen 109-96 in the series opener in a game that San Miguel struggled at the start.

The Beermen fell victim to the KaTropa’s 20-0 blitzkrieg in the first half, falling to a 37-19 hole that became insurmountable for them to climb back from.

Austria said he and his team has to review what transpired in Game 1, but he still saw positives despite the frustrating loss.

“The first half they really beat us, but I think they didn’t beat us in the second half,” said Austria in Filipino Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. “Although we watched their game before, that wasn’t enough for us because we know TNT is really out there to win.”

San Miguel managed to outscore the KaTropa in the second half, 54-49, but it wasn’t enough for a comeback as TNT did the bulk of the damage in the first two quarters.

The KaTropa found their mark in the second quarter, hitting seven of their total 13 three-pointers in that period alone. In contrast, San Miguel only had five triples the whole game.

TNT also turned those 18 offensive rebounds into quick baskets, scoring 26 second-chance points the whole game.

Austria knows San Miguel has to stop the KaTropa from hitting their triples, but he’s also aware of the dangers that Terrence Jones can do.

Jones was a massive thorn in the Beermen’s side— putting up 41 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, and three blocks in Game 1.

“We have to contain and limit their three-point shooting but the problem is that they have Jones who can really takeover games,” said Austria. “We still have to regroup and see what kind of adjustments we have to do in the next few days.”

/atm