At A Glance
- San Miguel head coach Leo Austria made it clear that the team should move on from the controversial Game 1 and instead focus on the task ahead against a determined and Grand Slam-seeking TNT side.
SMB head coach Leo Austria (PBA Images)
By ANGELO CAPARAS
San Miguel head coach Leo Austria made it clear that the team should move on from the controversial Game 1 and instead focus on the task ahead against a determined and Grand Slam-seeking TNT side.
The players responded well and took it to their hearts in Game 2, with the Beermen the better squad in the face of huge obstacles Wednesday, July 16.
Rather than getting caught up in what happened, Austria emphasized that the team opted to put it behind them and concentrate on equalizing the PBA Finals series.
"Alam naman natin mga player, kapag marami kang naririnig, marami kang sinabi, parang maraming analysis, nagiging paralysis," he added, sparking laughs from those in the press room.
Mo Tautuaa, who was at the center of the contentious call in Game 1, played the most minutes for San Miguel with 35 minutes and 28 seconds.
Austria also showed his full confidence in Tautuaa by putting him in the starting five. He finished with 16 points and four rebounds.
"Naiintindihan ni Mo, that's why before the start of the game, pagdating niya dito sa dugout, ako pa nagtanong sa kanya, 'Mo, if it is okay, I will start you tonight. Sabi niya, 'Yes coach', at biglang nagbihis agad. Nag-warm up."
"Kaya sabi ko, this is a sign, I know he will bounce back. He is a good help to our team," he added.
The multi-titled coach stressed that the entire squad, including the management, was locked in on bouncing back—something evident in the players’ energy and body language as they stepped on the floor and delivered the win.
“We have to fight back and bounce back. This is what happened, makikita mo naman sa body language ng mga players—they want to win,” he added.