John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

Article (news)

Leo Austria

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:959px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750426272948PBA Images12.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">San Miguel coach Leo Austria. <em>PBA Images</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA, Philippines – San Miguel has finally exacted revenge from last year&#x27;s PBA Philippine Cup Finals loss at the hands of Meralco.</p><p>The top-seeded Beermen have ousted the eighth-ranked Bolts, 108-97, denying the defending champions their chance to repeat the all-Filipino crown on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.</p><p>It was a long time coming for this SMB squad, as expressed by coach Leo Austria, who was by then the team&#x27;s consultant.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/6/20/pba-san-miguel-dethrones-meralco-in-ph-cup-advances-to-semis-1934"><strong>READ: PBA: San Miguel dethrones Meralco in PH Cup, advances to semis</strong></a></div><p>For him, the vengeful Beermen &quot;redeemed ourselves&quot; as they took out their previous tormentor.</p><p>&quot;This team is really thinking of this playoff, na we will get after ng elimination against Meralco,&quot; said Austria. &quot;It&#x27;s all about pride.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/6/17/magnolias-lucero-is-latest-pba-player-of-the-week-1807"><strong>READ: Magnolia&#x27;s Lucero is latest PBA Player of the Week</strong></a></div><p>&quot;We know na in the last championship in the all-Filipino, Meralco beat us. And then ayan, we redemeed ourselves from that loss. And then last conference, we never get into the quarterfinals.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/6/19/pba-june-mar-fajardo-leads-bpc-race-by-end-of-elims-1715"><strong>READ: PBA: June Mar Fajardo leads BPC race by end of elims<br/></strong></a></div><p>But this triumph is, hopefully, just the first of many as they set sights on the major prize—reclaiming the peak of the Philippine Cup.</p><p>&quot;Now, we&#x27;re in the semifinals. I think it&#x27;s a good achievement,&quot; said Austria.</p><p>&quot;But we&#x27;re preparing for this conference to get all the way through the finals and eventually win the championship.&quot;</p><p>Austria knows how deadly their next rivals could be, be it Converge or Ginebra.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s a long shot,&quot; said the SMB tactician. &quot;Because in the next bracket, it could be Converge or Ginebra. And we know how strong that team is, especially Converge that have a lot of big men match up to our big man June Mar.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OmDx2FaNy8M??si=Iugf2YYrlQKf6g41&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

Leo Austria on SMB ousting Meralco: 'We redeemed ourselves'

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Basketball

Leo Austria on SMB ousting Meralco: 'We redeemed ourselves'

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 20, 2025 09:45 PM PHT

|

Updated Jun 20, 2025 09:46 PM PHT

Read More:

abssports

absnews

basketball

PBA Philippine Cup

San Miguel Beermen

Meralco Bolts

Leo Austria

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.