Leo Austria is back as the San Miguel head coach in the PBA. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
In a bid to address its early woes in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, San Miguel on Friday brought back its decorated mentor Leo Austria at the helm of its brain trust.
The move was shared to the members of the press no less by team governor Robert Non just moments before the Beermen, who are currently sitting on a 1-2 record in the Commissioner’s Cup, took on perennial doormat Terrafirma at Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila on Friday.
READ: PBA: Leo Austria rejoins San Miguel as active consultant
Austria, the architect behind nine of San Miguel’s league-best 29 titles, replaces Jorge Gallent, his longtime assistant who was given the keys to the club back on Jan. 21 last year.
His return also marked the debut of new import Torren Jones, who is taking the place of Quincy Miller.
Gallent, who steered the franchise to a 2023-2024 Commissioner’s Cup crown, has been named an active consultant, virtually swapping places with Austria.
San Miguel’s lone win as of this writing was against a Phoenix side that has been struggling since last season. The Beermen, who added Juami Tiongson and Andreas Cahilig just before the midseason showcase, barely won that match 107-104.
READ: Arwind Santos vouches for Leo Austria: ‘Greatest’ San Miguel coach ever
Already bannered by league Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo and peppered with stars like CJ Perez, Marcio Lassiter and Chris Ross, San Miguel dropped its games NLEX (104-99), and then Rain or Shine (107-93).
Austria will have a chance to recapture his groove in the game against the Dyip and then against Blackwater and prepare him just in time for a critical test against Hong Kong Eastern on Dec. 22. –with reports from Jonas Terrado