MANILA – San Miguel Beermen head coach Leo Austria credited his team’s discipline, experience, and defensive execution for their 92-77 Game 6 victory over TNT Tropang 5G to rule the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup.
Austria said his players were determined to end the series and avoid a deciding game, a mindset that showed in their performance on both ends of the floor.
“It was very obvious that the players did not want to lose this game. They did not want to have another game,” Austria said in a post-game interview.
The 11-time PBA champion coach pointed to San Miguel’s defensive effort as a key factor, particularly in limiting TNT’s transition opportunities and second-chance points.
“If you look at the stats, this is the second time we did not give TNT a fastbreak point, and their second-chance points were only six,” he said. “Unlike before, we really focused on those areas.”
Austria described the championship-clinching performance as a complete effort from start to finish, even after TNT made a push to recover following San Miguel’s strong opening.
“From start to finish, the players showed the true character of this team,” he said. “We had a good start, TNT was able to recover, but our composure did not disappear because of our experience, especially in a championship game.”
Ultimately, he credited the Beermen’s veteran core and familiarity with high-pressure situations as the difference, particularly in the prestigious All-Filipino Conference.
“We were just more lucky, but it is really the experience of the players that explains why we are winning in the All-Filipino championship,” he added. “It has a lot of prestige, and everyone knows what this conference means to us.”
The victory further cements San Miguel’s status as one of the most successful teams in PBA history with 31 titles, once again proving their strength in the league’s all-local tournament./PN
