Jorge Gallent is now the official head coach of San Miguel.
In the official lineup listed by San Miguel that was submitted to the PBA, the lead deputy of the Beermen is now listed as the chief tactician of the team.
According to multiple sources closely monitoring the situation, Gallent has been calling the shots in the team’s practices since the start of the year.
The same sources added that Leo Austria was no longer asked to take part in the team’s practices.
Gallent, 54, will be handling a PBA team for the first time since the 2010-11 PBA Season when he was the head coach of B-Meg.
He was also the head coach of San Sebastian College-Recoletos from 2007-08.
Gallent also coached a few games for San Miguel during the PBA Commissioner’s Cup when Austria was put in “health and safety protocols.”
The Far Eastern University product will make his San Miguel head coaching debut on January 29 against Phoenix Super LPG.
He inherits a lineup that is led by the duo of June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez.
Also still part of the team is the trio of Marcio Lassiter, Chris Ross, and Terrence Romeo, along with Vic Manuel, Jericho Cruz, Mo Tautuaa, Rodney Brondial, Robbie Herndon, and Simon Enciso.
Completing the squad are import Cameron Clark, new boy Allyn Bulanadi, and role players Jeepy Faundo and Michael Canete.
This ends Austria’s eight-year run as head coach with San Miguel that saw him steer the team to nine PBA titles – with the most recent conquest being the 2022 Philippine Cup.
Tiebreaker Times reached out to team manager Gee Abanilla earlier this week but he has yet to respond as of this posting.
