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Leo Austria is a retired Filipino basketball player and coach. He was awarded the Quezon Medalya ng Karangalan Award for Sports in 1988 and 1998. Austria's coaching career began with Chowking in the late 1990s, and he later became the head coach of the Welcoat Dragons and the Shell Turbo Chargers in the Philippine Basketball Association. He then coached the San Miguel Beermen, leading them to nine PBA championships. In 2023, Austria took a break from coaching, citing 'personal reasons', and was replaced by Jorge Gallent. However, in December 2024, Austria returned as head coach of San Miguel, replacing Gallent.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 14 March 1958 |
| Place of birth | Sariaya, Quezon |
| Occupation | Retired Filipino professional basketball player and coach |
| Awards | Quezon Medalya ng Karangalan Award for Sports (1988, 1998 or both), PBA Rookie of the Year (1985), Coach of the Year (2013) |
| Teams played for | Lyceum of the Philippines University, Chowking, Formula Shell, Pepsi |
| Teams coached | Chowking, Shark Energy Drink (formerly Chowking), Welcoat/Welcoat Paints/Welbest franchise/Rain or Shine Elasto Painters/Welcoat Dragons, Adamson/Adamson Falcons, San Miguel Beermen |
| Coaching hiatus | January 2023-December 2024 |
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What You'll Learn
Leo Austria's hiatus from coaching San Miguel
Leo Austria, a retired Filipino professional basketball player, took a hiatus from coaching San Miguel in 2023. Austria had been the head coach of the team for eight years, from 2014 to 2022, during which they won nine PBA championships.
Austria's decision to take a break from coaching was due to 'personal reasons'. He informed the management of his intention to take a "coaching sabbatical" just a few days before the Governors' Cup, which led to the promotion of former lead assistant Jorge Gallent as the new head coach.
During his hiatus, Austria remained associated with the team as a consultant. However, he admitted to feeling surprised and rusty when he returned to coaching San Miguel in December 2024, replacing Gallent. Austria guided the team to a 106-88 win against Terrafirma, which snapped a two-game slide for San Miguel in the PBA Commissioner's Cup.
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Austria's return to coaching San Miguel
Leo Austria, a retired Filipino basketball player, has returned to coaching San Miguel after a year-long hiatus. Austria, who previously coached San Miguel from 2014 to 2022, took a break from coaching due to 'personal reasons'. During his previous tenure, he led the team to nine PBA championships.
Austria admitted to feeling "a little bit rusty" upon his return but remained familiar with the team and his role as coach. He expressed his surprise at being asked to coach again and acknowledged the pressure of coaching in the PBA, where he could not take any team lightly.
Austria's return was welcomed by the team, including eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, who expressed joy at having Austria back. Fajardo had previously struggled with the loss of his mother and briefly went off the grid, but Austria noted that he was smiling more and moving on.
With Austria back at the helm, San Miguel hopes to return to their winning ways and reclaim the midseason conference title. Austria's reputation for giving extended minutes to star players who perform well on the court remains a key aspect of his coaching strategy.
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Austria's coaching style
Leo Austria is a retired Filipino basketball player who has since become a highly successful coach. His coaching style is demanding but fair, and he is known for giving star players extended minutes, while those who don't perform well on the court will have a shorter playing time. Austria is quoted as saying: "There's no equal opportunity here. If you do well on the court, you'll have a longer playing time. But to do that, you have to earn your way."
Austria's first coaching stint was for Chowking in the late 90s, during which he steered the team to numerous semifinal appearances. After Chowking was renamed Shark Energy Drink in 2000, he led the team to two titles in four finals matches against Welcoat from 2000 to 2002. He then moved to Welcoat Paints as its new head coach in late 2002, leading the Paintmasters to the 2002 PBL Challenge Cup championship.
In 2004, Austria was named head coach of Shell, and he coached the team to two semifinal appearances and a third-place finish in the 2005 PBA Fiesta Conference. He then moved to the Adamson Falcons in 2006, leading them to their first-ever Final Four appearance. In 2014, he became the head coach of the San Miguel Beermen, guiding them to nine PBA championships out of the next eight Finals appearances.
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Austria's first coaching stint
Leovino "Leo" Austria is a Filipino professional basketball coach and former player. He was born in Sariaya, Quezon, on March 14, 1958. Austria's first coaching stint was for Chowking in the late 1990s. During this time, he steered the team to numerous semifinal appearances but fell short of reaching the finals against powerhouse teams like Tanduay, Red Bull, and Welcoat. Chowking was later renamed Shark Energy Drink in 2000, and under Austria's leadership, they claimed two titles in four finals matches against Welcoat from 2000 to 2002.
In 2002, Austria moved to Welcoat Paints as its new head coach. He led Welcoat to a runner-up finish in 2003 with James Yap as one of its star players. In 2004, Austria was set to mentor Jay Washington, but he received an offer from Shell, the same franchise that drafted him as a player 19 years earlier, to become their head coach. With Austria at the helm, Shell climbed up the standings, making two semifinal appearances and achieving a third-place finish in the 2005 PBA Fiesta Conference. However, Shell disbanded after the 2004-2005 season, marking the end of Austria's first stint as a head coach in the PBA.
Austria's early coaching experiences laid the groundwork for his future career. He credits legendary coach Ron Jacobs, under whom he trained as a player, for sparking his interest in coaching. Austria's first coaching opportunity came when he was a playing assistant coach for Hapee Toothpaste. He stepped up as a coach for a game when the head coach was suspended and led the team to a victory over Chowking to reach the playoffs in 1998. Although Hapee disbanded after that season, it opened doors for Austria, and he was hired by Chowking as an assistant coach, beginning his first coaching stint.
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Austria's career as a player
Leovino "Leo" Austria is a Filipino professional basketball coach and former player. Born in Sariaya, Quezon, on March 14, 1958, Austria played college basketball for the Lyceum of the Philippines University while also competing in the commercial Philippine Amateur Basketball League via Masagana 99. In 1984, he was named the Most Valuable Player of the Ambassador's Cup. The following year, he was drafted by a new team, Formula Shell, and went on to win the 1985 PBA Rookie of the Year honours.
During his playing career, Austria established himself as a talented player, making a quick impact on his veteran-laden Shell squad. In 1988, he was recognised for his outstanding achievements in the sport, receiving the Quezon Medalya ng Karangalan Award for Sports. This award is given to individuals who have excelled in their chosen fields and made exceptional contributions to their community.
In addition to his success on the court, Austria also ventured into coaching early in his career. In 1999, he took on the role of playing coach for his team, Chowking, due to injuries among their point guards. He steered Chowking to numerous semifinal appearances but fell short of reaching the finals. In 2000, Chowking was renamed Shark Energy Drink, and under Austria's leadership, they claimed two titles in four finals matches against Welcoat from 2000 to 2002.
After his playing career, Austria went on to become a full-time coach, leading various teams to success in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
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Frequently asked questions
Leo Austria took a break from coaching San Miguel in 2023 due to 'personal reasons'. He was replaced by Jorge Gallent.
Yes, Leo Austria returned to coaching the San Miguel Beermen in December 2024.
Leo Austria is a retired Filipino professional basketball player and former head coach of the Welcoat Dragons and the Shell Turbo Chargers in the Philippine Basketball Association. He led the San Miguel Beermen to nine PBA championships. He also led Chowking to numerous semifinal appearances and two titles in four finals matches between 2000 and 2002.
