The San Miguel Beermen have yet to defend their crown, but the mere fact that they have made it to the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals is already an accomplishment for head coach Leo Austria.
The Beermen had a topsy-turvy campaign early in this mid-season joust when they started 0-3 – uncharacteristic by their standards, especially knowing that they’re coming off a championship run in the 2018 Philippine Cup.
But they can put that behind them now, and focus on keeping their hold of the throne. SMB will enter the quarterfinals as the sixth-ranked team, though they lost to the Magnolia Hotshots, 97-101, Saturday night.
The Hotshots needed to win by 14 points or more to reach either the fifth or sixth spot, but the Beermen held them down. Magnolia fell to seventh place and are now at a twice-to-beat disadvantage versus the Alaska Aces.
“That’s what I told the team, guys mission accomplished because from 0-3, we were able to get into the best-of-three. Kung suwerte siguro naka-tie pa kami sa 2-4. Masaya na rin kami na umabot kami dito,” said Austria.
But another tall order is waiting for the Beermen in the quarters.
San Miguel will face long-time rivals TNT Katropa in a best-of-three affair. The Texters are keen on getting back at SMB after what happened in their first encounter this conference, where ejections and tussles took place.
The Beermen won that bout, 99-94.
Add to that the fact that TNT have been lost to SMB several times in recent memory: in the 2017 Philippine Cup semifinals, the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup Finals, in the 2017 Governor’s Cup eliminations, and in the 2018 All-Filipino quarterfinals.
So for Austria, he’s bracing for a tougher series ahead against the Katropa.
“It will be hard,” said the reigning Coach of the Year, “considering every series of San Miguel against TNT, we always beat them eh.
“I’m sure they’re thinking differently because they know they have to redeem themselves.”
