ANTIPOLO — Leo Austria is set to take on a more active role now that he has returned to San Miguel after several months of sabbatical.
All smiles, the now-team consultant rejoined the Beermen for their PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup debut against NLEX on Wednesday night.
“My sabbatical is over.
“I’m so grateful to the management,” he told reporters during a chance encounter in the dugout of the Ynares Center.
Austria, 65, was appointed to the aforementioned role last January, with longtime deputy Jorge Gallent elevated to the chief mentor position.
The management’s decision came just a month after the 2022 Commissioner’s Cup, where SMB lost to guest team Bay Area in the semifinals.
It was in that same conference where he missed several games due to health and safety protocols, with Gallent pinch-hitting for him. The latter eventually took over his spot prior to the commencement of the 2023 Governors’ Cup.
Austria was never seen with the Beermen during the season-ending conference, where the team got swept by Barangay Ginebra in the best-of-5 semis.
But it didn’t mean that he was totally away from the game. Aside from playing pickups, he was also spotted watching the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 a couple of times. All that, of course, was part of his much-needed break.
“Alam naman natin ‘yung nine years ko, very stressful ‘yun. Kasama na ‘yung dalawang taon ng pandemic. We’d been to the Finals 10 times, we won nine. Talagang napakahirap nun,” said the nine-time champion coach.
“Naka-recharge ako. Nakapag-relax. Nameet ko ‘yung family ko, relatives. That’s why I’m so grateful to the management. Doesn’t matter naman kung anong nangyari. It helped a lot para sa akin.”
Austria was actually with San Miguel during the PBA Season 48 Rookie Draft Combine last September, but his return became official after receiving a phone call from none other than SMC sports director Alfrancis Chua.
He returned last November 3 and has since been part of the team’s practices and, starting Wednesday, will be a fixture on the sidelines during games too.
“Coach Al called me, and then kumustahan kami. Maganda ang mood namin pareho. Kwentuhan. Then, ‘Coach, kailangan pumunta ka na sa practice. Pati sa games, ganyan,‘” recalled Austria of how their conversation went.
“Siyempre, ‘di mo maaalis sakin i-share kung anong maitutulong ko sa team, especially sa coaching staff.”
