After successfully winning their second straight PBA Philippine Cup title, and their third championship in a span of four conferences, the San Miguel Beermen will finally be able to enjoy a break.
It is a well-deserved one for the team, which has not had any significant rest since plunging to action in the semi-finals last month.
But head coach Leo Austria is also wary of the team’s concentration, hoping that they stay focused on the next two conferences to come and that his players have learned from last season’s experience.
“I hope we learn from our lesson. Noong bumalik kami, (last season) I think we only had three days to practice for our first game. I think this time mapaga-aralan namin although for the mean time talagang bibigyan ko ng rest ang players but not too long because we are professionals and we have a job to do,” Austria shared after the Beermen had won the championship.
In the 2014-2015 season, San Miguel won the Philippine Cup but struggled to find their groove when the Commissioner’s Cup kicked off. It led to an infamous ‘hangover‘, with the Beermen crashing out of the elimination round.
This time, though, San Miguel will have more time to recover as the team will not be playing until the 20th.
“I hope maniwala sila sa akin. (The last time) naging KJ daw ako sa kanila eh so I extended their breaks. Pero yung players, because of the championship, inabuse nila eh. I hope this time we learn our lesson,” Austria shared.
In addition, San Miguel already have their reinforcements in tow, unlike last season where the team struggled to find an import between the Philippine and Commissioner’s Cup. Such circumstances affected how the team was supposed to gel and the Beermen piled up losses early in the Commissioner’s Cup.
“If you notice, our import is already here. Magdadalawang linggo na siya dito and that is our preparation. Because last time our import arrived three days before the game and hindi pa nagge-gel. Napakahirap noon at yung ibang team, preparadong preparado. So ngayon baka maka-one week (preparation) kami,” Austria said.
