Romwel Anzures

San Miguel Beermen head coach Leo Austria after Game 6 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals. Photo from PBA Images.

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ABS-CBN News

<div style="line-height:1.5"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1770034053961IMG_9848.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>San Miguel Beermen head coach Leo Austria (center) after Game 6 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals. Photo from PBA Images.MANILA — Players often get the praise while coaches shoulder the blame, but June Mar Fajardo made sure that this wouldn’t be the case for San Miguel Beer head coach Leo Austria.</div>The PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals MVP made sure Austria —  now an 11-time champion coach and still unbeaten in eight All-Filipino Finals appearances — got the recognition he deserves, dispelling claims that he is merely carried by his players.<div style="line-height:1.5"><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/2/1/back-to-back-san-miguel-defends-all-filipino-crown-triumphs-over-tnt-2141">READ: San Miguel defends All-Filipino crown, triumphs over TNT</a></div>“Magaling talaga si Coach Leo,” Fajardo said after their 92-77 Game 6 win over the TNT Tropang 5G on Sunday. “Isa siya sa pinakamagaling na coach sa PBA.”“‘Di lang siya masyadong nabibigyan ng credit. Sobrang humble pa niya. Pero ako na magsasabi, magaling si Coach Leo,” added the San Miguel mainstay.For Fajardo, the former Adamson University mentor has been the architect of the Beermen’s sustained success, crediting Austria for helping maximize the team’s strengths over the years.“Siya ang dahilan kung bakit nananalo ng championships ang San Miguel,” Fajardo emphasized. “Nailalabas ng players yung laro nila, pero at the same time, composed lang siya at nadidisiplina niya kami.”That approach paid off once more as San Miguel clinched its 31st overall PBA championship and 12th Philippine Cup title.In addition, the triumph also elevated Austria to third place in the league’s all-time list of championship coaches, tying TNT’s Chot Reyes and San Miguel legend Norman Black.Despite the accolades, Austria was quick to redirect the credit to his players anew.“Both teams deserved to win, but we were luckier,” Austria said. “I think it’s the experience of our players why we win in the All-Filipino.”Austria cited his team’s championship pedigree, sacrifices, and defensive focus as the keys to overcoming the Tropang 5G.“We just went back to basics, especially on defense,” he said. “We regrouped, we stopped Calvin Oftana, and that’s the character of our players, especially Chris Ross.”“Most of the players are already feeling something physically, but this was an opportunity that doesn’t come often, so we didn’t let it go,” he added.But even with another title secured, Austria stressed that San Miguel remains hungry for more.“We’re not content with what we’ve achieved,” he said.<div style="line-height:1.5"> RELATED VIDEO: <iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LWj_DoKdwow?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></div>

#PBA50 || Players often get the praise while coaches shoulder the blame, but June Mar Fajardo made sure that this wouldn’t be the case for San Miguel Beer head coach Leo Austria. #PBAFinals

#PBA50 || Players often get the praise while coaches shoulder the blame, but June Mar Fajardo made sure that this wouldn’t be the case for San Miguel Beer head coach Leo Austria. #PBAFinals

Fajardo heaps praise on Austria after another title: 'Isa sa pinakamagaling na coach sa PBA'

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Fajardo heaps praise on Austria after another title: 'Isa sa pinakamagaling na coach sa PBA'

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 02, 2026 08:23 PM PHT

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Basketball

PBA

PBA Season 50

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PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup

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San Miguel

TNT

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