Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

Leo Austria hopes Comm’s Cup loss serves as wake-up call: ‘Babagyuhin ka, babagsak ka rin’


Entering the 43rd season of the PBA, many believed that the San Miguel Beermen were a Grand Slam team in the making.

Winners of six of the last 10 championships, the Beermen were seen as the favorites to retain the Commissioner’s Cup crown – especially with the addition of Christian Standhardinger, Renaldo Balkman, and Kelly Nabong.

But coach Leo Austria has seen a contender rise who would topple their empire. And it came in the form of Tim Cone and the Barangay Ginebra Kings.

“Ever since coach Tim Cone coached Ginebra, I know, that this time will come.

“I know that we will face (each other) again in the championship. Maybe because they developed some cohesiveness and then developed experience they need especially in a game like this,” shared Austria, who lost in the Finals for the first time in seven tries.

Austria has seen it all since taking over the helm back in 2014. And he is hoping that this loss serves as a wake-up call, that they are no longer the champions and that they are not a super team.

2018-pba-philippine-cup-game-5-san-miguel-def-magnolia-beermen-5 Leo Austria hopes Comm’s Cup loss serves as wake-up call: ‘Babagyuhin ka, babagsak ka rin’ Basketball News PBA  - philippine sports news

“First of all, alisin namin ‘yung anim na championship namin. Alisin namin yung paniniwala na nababasa’t naririnig namin na we’re a super team. ‘Yung hype going into the Finals na we’re too much for our opponent,” said the six-time PBA Champion coach. “We have to go back to the basics, the fundamentals of basketball. We have to prepare hard because every team in the PBA is too eager to beat San Miguel.

“It’s hard to maintain being on top of the mountain. Sooner or later, bababgyuhin ka, babagsak ka rin.

“Now, it’s happening. Alam nila. It could be a wake up call for us,” Austria hopes.

#ReadMore  Lineker-Worthen, McLaren-Wakamatsu headline ONE on TNT III
Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


You May Also Like

Basketball

Leo Austria and San Miguel remain unfazed by soaring expectations as they look to halt TNT’s bid for PBA immortality in the Philippine Cup...

Basketball

Tim Cone believes fatigue will be Gilas Pilipinas’ biggest challenge as the national team ramps up preparations for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 this...

Basketball

June Mar Fajardo allayed fears of his injury worsening after hurting his leg early in San Miguel’s eventual win over Barangay Ginebra in the...

Basketball

LA Tenorio’s game-winning three in Game 6 stung Jericho Cruz so badly that he went sleepless trying to process what happened. The shot happened...

Basketball

Seeing LA Tenorio’s exploits to will Ginebra past San Miguel in Game 6 of their PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semis battle lit a...

Basketball

No trilogy is taking place in the PBA Season 49, as San Miguel tore up the script by ousting Barangay Ginebra, 100-93, to advance...

Basketball

Gilas Pilipinas Men head coach Tim Cone isn’t expecting much from the national team’s first practice on Monday ahead of the FIBA Asia Cup...

Basketball

LA Tenorio turned back the clock and saved Barangay Ginebra from the jaws of defeat against San Miguel, 88-87, to force a Game 7...

Advertisement