John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

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PBA Images14 (1)

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752680429968PBA Images14 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">San Miguel&#x27;s Mo Tautuaa in action. <em>PBA Images</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA, Philippines – San Miguel coach Leo Austria believed Mo Tautuaa would bounce back stronger following the drama that transpired in Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.</p><p>A clutch dunk by Tautuaa was deemed a basket interference, nullifying two points from the SMB side—in a game that TNT eventually won by a thread, 99-96.</p><p>Despite this, Austria expressed full trust in Tautuaa and even let him start in Game 2.</p><p>&quot;We just let him play,&quot; Austria said. &quot;Naiintindihan ni Mo, that&#x27;s why before the start of the game, pagdating niya dito sa dugout, ako pa nagtanong sa kaniya, &#x27;Mo, if it is okay, I will start you tonight. Sabi niya, &#x27;Yes coach&#x27;, at biglang nagbihis agad. Nag-warm up.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Kaya sabi ko, this is a sign, I know he will bounce back. He is a good help to our team.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/7/14/pba-looking-to-preserve-integrity-of-the-game-says-official-after-game-1-controversy-1918"><strong>READ: PBA looking to &#x27;preserve integrity of the game,&#x27; says official after Game 1 controversy</strong></a></div><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/7/13/pba-hot-shooting-tnt-survives-san-miguel-s-4th-quarter-surge-to-draw-first-blood-2157"><strong>READ: PBA: Hot-shooting TNT survives San Miguel’s 4th quarter surge to draw first blood</strong></a></div><p>Not dwelling on what happened, the Beermen recalibrated just in time for Game 2 to tie the PBA Finals at 1-1, 98-92, at the Big Dome.</p><p>Austria said they did not talk about it that much, referring to the dunk and the interference call.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Di namin masyado pinag-usapan what happened sa dunk niya, makikita mo naman tonight nag-dunk ulit siya—nag-miss ngayon,&quot; said Austria, drawing laughter during the postgame press conference.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/7/16/san-miguel-shakes-off-game-1-drama-holds-off-tnt-to-tie-pba-finals-2216"><strong>READ: San Miguel shakes off Game 1 drama, holds off TNT to tie PBA Finals<br/></strong></a></div><p>Austria asserted that more discussions could have led nowhere, that&#x27;s why they did not spend energy on what happened.</p><p>&quot;That&#x27;s how we handle those kinds of situations, hindi kailangan ma-pressure,&quot; he said. &quot;Alam naman natin mga player, kapag marami kang naririnig, marami kang sinabi, parang maraming analysis, nagiging paralysis.&quot;</p><p>Tautuaa eventually provided his squad with the spark, firing 16 points and four rebounds as the Beermen equalized in the championship round.</p>

<p>"I know he will bounce back. He is a good help to our team," says the SMB coach on Mo Tautuaa #PBAFinals </p>

"I know he will bounce back. He is a good help to our team," says the SMB coach on Mo Tautuaa #PBAFinals

Leo Austria had no doubt Mo Tautuaa would bounce back after dramatic Game 1: 'We just let him play'

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Leo Austria had no doubt Mo Tautuaa would bounce back after dramatic Game 1: 'We just let him play'

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 17, 2025 12:07 AM PHT

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abssports

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basketball

PBA Finals

San Miguel Beermen

TNT Tropang 5G

PBA Philippine Cup

Mo Tautuaa

Leo Austria

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