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Leo Austria

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In this Philippine name, the family name is Austria.
Leo Austria
Leo Austria (center) in 2015
San Miguel Beermen
PositionHead coach
LeaguePBA
Personal information
Born (1958-03-14) March 14, 1958 (age 66)
Sariaya, Quezon, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Listed height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Career information
CollegeLyceum
PBA draft1985: 4th round
Selected by the Shell Azodrin Bugbusters
Playing career1985–1993
Career history
As player:
1985–1991Formula Shell
1992–1993Pepsi
1999Chowking Fastfood Kings
As coach:
1998–2002Chowking Fastfood Kings/Shark Energy Drink Power Boosters
2002–2004Welcoat Paintmasters
2004–2005Shell Turbo Chargers
2005Adamson
2006Welcoat Paintmasters
2006–2008Welcoat Dragons
2008–2013Adamson
2012–2013San Miguel Beermen (ABL)
2014–2022; 2024–presentSan Miguel Beermen
Career highlights and awards
As coach

As consultant

As player

Leovino "Leo" Austria (born March 14, 1958) is a Filipino professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the San Miguel Beermen of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He previously coached the team from 2014 to 2022, leading the team to nine PBA championships out of the ten Finals appearances.[1] He also served as head consultant of the Beermen.[2]

Playing career

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Austria played his college basketball for the Lyceum of the Philippines University while also suiting up in the commercial Philippine Amateur Basketball League via Masagana 99.[3] In 1984, he was named the Most Valuable Player of the Ambassador's Cup before joining the PBA.

In 1985, a new team Formula Shell drafted him, aside from nabbing fellow PABL standout Sonny Cabatu in the said draft. He made a quick impact for the new but veteran laden Shell squad and won the Rookie of the Year honors at season's end. His average of 3.9 points per game for that season marked the lowest average for a Rookie of the Year awardee up to that time.[4] During his stint at Shell, he played backup point guard for Bernie Fabiosa, Al Solis, then Ronnie Magsanoc.[4] He later played for Pepsi and was out of the league after the 1993 season. In 394 games played, he averaged 4.5 points a ballgame. He was known for his three-point shooting.[4]

In 1988, he was awarded the Quezon Medalya ng Karangalan Award for Sports.[5] The QMK Award is given to outstanding Quezonians who excelled in their chosen fields. In 1999, he suited up for a few games as a playing coach for his team Chowking due to injuries of his point guards.

Coaching career

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Philippine Basketball League

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Austria's first coaching stint was for Chowking during the late 90s. During those days, he steered Chowking to numerous semifinal appearances but were unable to clinch a finals appearance against powerhouse and PBA-bound team Tanduay, Red Bull, and Welcoat.

After Chowking was renamed as Shark Energy Drink in 2000, he led the team to two titles in four finals matches against Welcoat from 2000 to 2002. He coached a team led by Chester Tolomia, Roger Yap, Ervin Sotto, and Gilbert Malabanan.

In late 2002, he moved to former rival Welcoat Paints as its new head coach after returning from a one conference absence. With a star-studded lineup of Rommel Adducul, Paul Artadi, Eddie Laure, Ronald Tubid, and Marc Pingris, he led the Paintmasters to the 2002 PBL Challenge Cup championship over Dazz in a three-game sweep.

He later led Welcoat to a runner-up finish in 2003 with James Yap as one of its star players.

Shell Turbo Chargers

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In 2004, Shell dismissed American head coach John Moran and named Austria as its new head coach, 19 years after starting his PBA career with the said team. During his only season with the Turbo Chargers, he coached a young but talented team of Tony dela Cruz, Ronald Tubid, Rookie of the Year Rich Alvarez, Billy Mamaril, and Roger Yap to two semifinal appearances and a third-place finish in the 2005 PBA Fiesta Conference. However, Shell disbanded after the 2004–2005 season. He then returned to the amateur ranks.

Adamson Falcons

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In 2006, Austria was named head coach of the Adamson Falcons in the UAAP replacing Mel Alas after a disappointing 3-11 stint. With him at the helm, the Falcons made their first-ever Final Four appearance since the format was introduced. However, they were eliminated by the Ateneo Blue Eagles in a closely fought semifinals. He coached the team until in 2013, following a dismal UAAP Season 76 campaign, he resigned. In seven seasons serving as Adamson's tactician, he piled up an overall win–loss record of 40–56, including three trips to the Final Four in Seasons 69, 73 and 74.[6]

Rain or Shine Elasto Painters/Welcoat Dragons

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In 2006, Welcoat bought the Shell franchise to join the PBA as its 10th member. With this development, Austria was renamed head coach of the Welbest franchise, this time carrying the banner of Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in preparation for their PBA debut. The Painters placed third in the 2006 PBL Unity Cup in the team's final conference.

He was formally named as the head coach of the Welcoat Dragons in the PBA. But after two seasons with the team, in 2008, he resigned as head coach citing that the management wanted a new direction. His former assistant Caloy Garcia took over his spot.

San Miguel Beermen (ABL)

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Austria coached the San Miguel Beermen in the ABL where he was awarded as the Coach of the Year in 2013 and helped the team win the championship that same year.[7]

San Miguel Beermen in the PBA

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In 2014, Austria renewed his ties with the San Miguel franchise by signing a one-year deal to be the head coach of the Beermen.[8] He won his first championship with SMB as a PBA head coach after defeating the Alaska Aces in seven games of the 2014–15 PBA Philippine Cup Finals. But in the Commissioner's Cup the Beermen failed to qualify in the playoffs. However, in the season ending tournament of the Governor's Cup he was able to steer the Beermen to another championship once again against the Aces this time in a sweep.

Austria later coached the team to seven more championships out of the next eight Finals appearances, which started with the 2015–16 PBA Philippine Cup Finals, in which they came back from an 0–3 deficit. When the Beermen lost to the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the 2018 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals, it was the team's first Finals loss under Austria.

Personal life

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Austria is married to his wife Nanette. Nanette had a kidney transplant on the afternoon Austria won the 2018 PBA Philippine Cup.[9] They have three kids,[10] including Bacon, a basketball player himself. Bacon won the 2013 PBA D-League Foundation Cup with Blackwater Sports a day after his father won the 2013 ABL finals with the San Miguel Beermen. Father and son have previously been on opposing teams in the UAAP, with Leo coaching Adamson, and Bacon playing for Ateneo.[11]

Coaching record

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Professional record

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Season Team Conference Elims./Clas. round Playoffs
GP W L PCT Finish GP W L PCT Results
2004–05 Shell Philippine Cup 18 12 6 .667 3rd 4 0 4 .000 Lost in third-place playoff
Fiesta 18 7 11 .389 9th 8 5 3 .625 Won in third-place playoff
2006–07 Welcoat Philippine Cup 18 3 15 .167 10th 0 Did not qualify
Fiesta 18 4 14 .222 10th 0 Did not qualify
2007–08 Welcoat Philippine Cup 18 4 14 .222 10th 0 Did not qualify
2013 SMB ABL 22 19 3 .863 1st 7 6 1 .857 Won the finals
2014–15 San Miguel Philippine Cup 11 9 2 .818 1st 11 8 3 .727 Won the finals
Commissioner's Cup 11 4 7 .364 9th 0 Did not qualify
Governors' Cup 11 8 3 .727 1st 10 8 2 .800 Won the finals
2015–16 San Miguel Philippine Cup 11 9 2 .818 2nd 13 8 5 .615 Won the finals
Commissioner's Cup 11 8 3 .727 1st 6 2 4 .333 Lost in the semifinals
Governors' Cup 11 8 3 .727 2nd 6 3 3 .500 Lost in the semifinals
2016–17 San Miguel Philippine Cup 11 10 1 .909 1st 13 9 4 .694 Won the finals
Commissioner's Cup 11 9 2 .818 2nd 11 8 3 .727 Won the finals
Governors' Cup 11 7 4 .636 6th 1 0 1 .000 Lost the quarterfinals
2017–18 San Miguel Philippine Cup 11 8 3 .727 1st 11 9 2 .818 Won the finals
Commissioner's Cup 11 6 5 .545 6th 12 7 5 .583 Lost the finals
Governors' Cup 11 6 5 .545 6th 1 0 1 .000 Lost the quarterfinals
2019 San Miguel Philippine Cup 11 7 4 .636 5th 16 11 5 .688 Won the finals
Commissioner's Cup 11 5 6 .455 7th 12 9 3 .750 Won the finals
Governors' Cup 11 6 5 .545 6th 1 0 1 .000 Lost the quarterfinals
Totals 277 159 118 .574 143 93 50 .650 9 championships

Collegiate record

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Season Team Eliminations Playoffs
GP W L PCT Finish PG W L PCT Results
2006 AdU 12 6 6 .500 4th 2 0 2 .000 Semifinals
2008 AdU 14 3 11 .214 7th — — — — Eliminated
2009 AdU 14 5 9 .358 5th — — — — Eliminated
2010 AdU 14 9 5 .643 3rd 1 0 1 .000 Semifinals
2011 AdU 14 10 4 .714 2nd 2 0 2 .000 Semifinals
2012 AdU 14 3 11 .214 6th — — — — Eliminated
2013 AdU 14 4 10 .286 7th — — — — Eliminated
Totals 96 40 56 .417 5 0 5 .000 0 championship

References

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  1. ^ "As SMB begins new era, stink of mishandled Austria exit lingers". SPIN.ph. January 29, 2023. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  2. ^ "Leo Austria takes sabbatical, remains with SMB as consultant". SPIN.ph. January 21, 2023. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  3. ^ "1983 PABL Founder's Cup". 22 October 2013.
  4. ^ a b c Santos, Rickie (1990), 1989-1990 PBA Annual, Pasig, Philippines: Philippine Basketball Association, p. 90
  5. ^ "Quezon Province".
  6. ^ "Austria to take a break, says Adamson got left behind in recruiting". 15 September 2013.
  7. ^ "San Miguel Beermen's Leo Austria Wins the 2013 Coach of the Year Award | ASEAN Basketball League". Archived from the original on 2013-07-16. Retrieved 2014-09-18.
  8. ^ "Leo Austria signs one-year deal to become new San Miguel Beer head coach".
  9. ^ INQUIRER.net (2018-03-06). "Austria turns emotional after SMB win as wife undergoes kidney transplant". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
  10. ^ Lozada, Bong (2020-06-28). "Austria turns from coaching SMB to being a dad instructor to kids". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
  11. ^ "All in the family as Leo and Bacon Austria win championships one after the other". Spin.ph. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
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