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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Will it be Leo Austria's Finals charm? Or San Miguel's win streak jinx?

Will it be Leo Austria's Finals charm? Or San Miguel's win streak jinx?

Published Jan 20, 2026 04:19 pm

At A Glance

  • San Miguel is back to the Philippine Cup Finals following a fiery run in the eliminations and the quarterfinals where it strung together 10 straight victories. But while that should raise hopes for the Beermen to win the title, history is telling another narrative.
(PBA Images)
(PBA Images)
San Miguel is back to the Philippine Cup Finals following a fiery run in the eliminations and the quarterfinals where it strung together 10 straight victories. But while that should raise hopes for the Beermen to win the title, history is telling another narrative.
It wasn’t the first time that the Beermen had a 10-game winning run. They did it not too long ago in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup. Impressive, of course, except that SMB failed to go all the way after the Meralco Bolts defeated them in the Finals through six games.
Now in the Finals against TNT, SMB has the chance to erase the memories of that bitter 2024.
Asked about the jinx during the pre-finals press conference on Monday, Jan 19, at the Novotel Manila, SMB head coach Leo Austria did not look fazed.
In fact, he was confident.
“Sana mabago iyon. Pero hindi kasi ako yung coach non nung time na iyon eh,” said the veteran mentor, generating laughs from the members of the press in attendance.
“Pero we will try our best na mawala iyon because it happens to San Miguel so we hope hindi mangyari iyon,” he added on a more serious tone.
But Austria isn’t merely speaking out of arrogance or bragging. The veteran mentor had the record to back it up — something that his counterpart TNT coach Chot Reyes even recognized.
“He’s a very, very good coach. And he’s not going to win this much if not for it,” said Reyes of Austria.
The 67-year-old bench tactician is undefeated when coaching SMB in the Philippine Cup Finals. Alex Compton tried twice. Chito Victolero also twice. Tim Cone once. All of those coaching minds yet they all failed to beat Austria’s charm in the Finals.
Reyes, himself, attempted at beating Austria twice only to fall short. He is hoping to solve that puzzle on his third try this time around.
So which will it be for SMB at the end of the best-of-seven finals? Will it be Austria’s charm? Or the Beermen’s win streak jinx?
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