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Leo Austria is a retired Filipino professional basketball player and coach. He was born in Sariaya, Quezon, Philippines, on March 14, 1958, and played college basketball for the Lyceum of the Philippines University. Austria began his PBA career with Shell in 1985, where he won Rookie of the Year honours. He later became a coach, leading teams such as Chowking, Shark Energy Drink, Welcoat/Rain or Shine, and the Adamson Falcons. He is currently the head coach of the San Miguel Beermen, where he has faced criticism for his coaching abilities but has also proven his worth by leading the team to championship victories.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Leovino R. Austria |
| Known As | Leo Austria |
| Date of Birth | 14 March 1958 |
| Place of Birth | Sariaya, Quezon |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Occupation | Basketball Coach |
| Education | Lyceum of the Philippines University |
| Career | Retired Basketball Player and Former Head Coach |
| Teams Coached | Welcoat Dragons, Shell Turbo Chargers, Chowking, Shark Energy Drink, Welcoat/Rain or Shine, Adamson Falcons, San Miguel Beermen |
| Awards | Quezon Medalya ng Karangalan Award for Sports (1988, 1998), PBA Rookie of the Year (1985), Coach of the Year (2013) |
| Family | Wife: Nanette, Children: Bacon (basketball player) and 2 others |
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What You'll Learn
Leo Austria's career as a basketball player
Leovino R. Austria, better known as Leo Austria, is a retired Filipino professional basketball player and coach. Born in Sariaya, Quezon on 14 March 1958, Austria almost pursued volleyball instead of basketball in his senior year of high school. He played college basketball for the Lyceum of the Philippines University and suited up for Masagana 99 in the Philippine Amateur Basketball League.
In 1984, Austria was named the Most Valuable Player of the Ambassador's Cup. The following year, he joined the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) after being selected by Formula Shell in the fourth round of the first-ever Rookie Draft. That same year, he won the Rookie of the Year award, averaging 3.9 points per game—the lowest average for a Rookie of the Year awardee at the time. During his time with Shell, Austria played backup point guard for Bernie Fabiosa, Al Solis, and Ronnie Magsanoc. He later played for Pepsi and left the league after the 1993 season. In 394 games played, he averaged 4.5 points per game and was known for his three-point shooting.
Austria's first coaching stint was with Chowking in the late 1990s, during which he steered the team to several semifinal appearances. In 2000, after Chowking was renamed Shark Energy Drink, he led the team to two titles in four finals matches against Welcoat from 2000 to 2002. In late 2002, Austria moved to Welcoat Paints as its new head coach, leading the team to a championship win in the 2002 PBL Challenge Cup. He then led Welcoat to a runner-up finish in 2003. In 2004, Austria was named head coach of the Shell Turbo Chargers, 19 years after starting his PBA career with the team.
Austria has since coached several other teams, including the Welcoat Dragons, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, Adamson Falcons, and San Miguel Beermen. He was awarded Coach of the Year in 2013 and helped the San Miguel Beermen win the championship that same year.
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Leo Austria's career as a basketball coach
Leovino R. Austria, better known as Leo Austria, is a retired Filipino professional basketball player and coach. Austria was born in Sariaya, Quezon, on March 14, 1958, and played college basketball for the Lyceum of the Philippines University. In 1984, he was named the Most Valuable Player of the Ambassador's Cup before joining the PBA. In 1985, he was drafted by Formula Shell and went on to win the Rookie of the Year award, despite averaging just 3.9 points per game.
Austria's coaching career began in the late 1990s with Chowking. During his time with the team, he led them to numerous semifinal appearances but fell short of reaching the finals. In 2000, Chowking was renamed Shark Energy Drink, and Austria continued his success, guiding the team to two titles in four finals matches against Welcoat from 2000 to 2002. In late 2002, Austria moved to Welcoat Paints as its new head coach, leading them to the 2002 PBL Challenge Cup championship.
In 2004, Austria returned to Shell as its head coach. During his lone season with the Turbo Chargers, he coached a talented squad that included Tony dela Cruz, Ronald Tubid, and Roger Yap, guiding them to two semifinal appearances and a third-place finish in the 2005 PBA Fiesta Conference. However, Shell disbanded after the 2004-2005 season, prompting Austria to return to the amateur ranks.
In 2006, Austria took over as head coach of the Adamson Falcons in the UAAP, leading them to their first-ever Final Four appearance. He remained with the Falcons until 2013 when he resigned following a disappointing UAAP Season 76 campaign. That same year, Austria coached the San Miguel Beermen in the ABL, winning the championship and being named Coach of the Year. He renewed his contract with the San Miguel Beermen in 2014, signing a one-year deal. Austria's coaching prowess continued to shine as he guided the Beermen to seven more championships out of the next eight Finals appearances.
Austria's notable achievements include the Quezon Medalya ng Karangalan Award for Sports, which he received in 1988 and 1998. He has also experienced the unique dynamic of coaching against his son, Bacon Austria, a basketball player himself, in opposing teams in the UAAP.
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Leo Austria's personal life
Leovino R. Austria, better known as Leo Austria, was born on March 14, 1958, in Sariaya, Quezon. He is a retired Filipino professional basketball player and former head coach. Austria played college basketball for the Lyceum of the Philippines University and also played in the commercial Philippine Amateur Basketball League. In 1984, he was named the Most Valuable Player of the Ambassador's Cup. The following year, he was drafted by the new team Formula Shell and was named the 1985 PBA Rookie of the Year. He later played for Pepsi and left the league after the 1993 season, having played 394 games and averaged 4.5 points per game.
Austria's first coaching stint was for Chowking in the late 1990s. He steered the team to numerous semifinal appearances but fell short of reaching the finals. In 2000, Chowking was renamed Shark Energy Drink, and Austria led them to two titles in four finals matches against Welcoat from 2000 to 2002. In late 2002, he moved to rival Welcoat Paints as its new head coach and led them to the 2002 PBL Challenge Cup championship.
In 2004, Austria was named head coach of Shell Turbo Chargers, returning to the team he had started his PBA career with 19 years prior. After Shell disbanded, he became the head coach of the Adamson Falcons in 2006. With Austria at the helm, the Falcons made their first-ever Final Four appearance but resigned following a disappointing UAAP Season 76 campaign in 2013.
In 2006, Welcoat bought the Shell franchise and Austria was renamed head coach of the Welbest franchise, carrying the banner of Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. He was then formally named as the head coach of the Welcoat Dragons in the PBA but resigned after two seasons, citing management direction concerns. Austria went on to coach the San Miguel Beermen in the ABL, winning the championship and being awarded Coach of the Year in 2013.
Austria is married to Nanette, and they have three children, including Bacon, who is also a basketball player.
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Criticism Leo Austria has faced
Leo Austria, a retired Filipino basketball player and coach, has faced criticism from fans and the media throughout his career. Austria has been the head coach of several teams in the Philippine Basketball Association, including the Welcoat Dragons, Shell Turbo Chargers, and San Miguel Beermen. While he has achieved success with these teams, he has also faced scrutiny and criticism for his coaching decisions and the performance of his teams.
One of the main criticisms Leo Austria has faced is the notion that his teams' successes are due to the talent of the players rather than his coaching abilities. Some critics attribute the Beermen's winning of five straight Philippine Cup crowns to the team's talent and material to dominate, rather than Austria's coaching prowess. This suggests that Austria's success as a coach is dependent on having a strong roster, which can undermine his strategic contributions to the team's victories.
In addition, Austria has faced criticism for the relatively underwhelming performance of his teams in recent conferences. The San Miguel Beermen, the most-titled franchise in the PBA, had a period of underperformance following their 2019 Commissioner's Cup victory. This led to calls from fans for Austria's removal as head coach, with some questioning his ability to lead the team effectively. However, Austria remained focused on his goals and tuned out the negative comments, ultimately leading the Beermen to a 119-97 win over TNT in the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup finals.
Austria has also faced criticism for his coaching decisions, particularly in regard to player rotations and strategies. Some critics have questioned his player rotations, suggesting that he relies too heavily on veteran players and fails to give younger players sufficient opportunities. Additionally, there have been comments about his strategic approach, with some suggesting that his strategies are too simplistic or outdated for the modern game. However, Austria has proven his ability to adapt and lead his teams to victory, even in the face of such criticism.
Despite the criticism, Leo Austria has demonstrated resilience and a commitment to his coaching philosophy. He has expressed gratitude to his players and management for their support and contributions to their shared successes. By tuning out negative comments and focusing on his goals, Austria has proven his worth as a coach and continues to strive for victory with his teams.
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Leo Austria's awards and accolades
Leovino "Leo" Austria is a Filipino professional basketball coach and former player. He is currently the head coach of the San Miguel Beermen of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Over the course of his career, Austria has received numerous awards and accolades in recognition of his outstanding achievements and contributions to the sport.
One of Austria's notable awards is the Quezon Medalya ng Karangalan Award for Sports, which he received in 1988 or 1998. This award, also known as the QMK Award, is presented to exceptional individuals from Quezon who have excelled in their chosen fields. Austria's impact in the world of basketball has undoubtedly brought pride and inspiration to his hometown.
Austria's talent was recognised early on when he was named the Most Valuable Player of the Ambassador's Cup in 1984, even before he entered the PBA. Upon joining the league, he quickly made a name for himself and was named the 1985 PBA Rookie of the Year, an impressive feat that highlighted his skill and potential.
As a coach, Austria has also achieved remarkable success. In 2013, he was named Coach of the Year while coaching the San Miguel Beermen in the ABL. That same year, he guided the team to victory, winning the ABL championship. With the San Miguel Beermen, Austria continued to showcase his exceptional coaching abilities, leading the team to an impressive record of nine PBA championships out of ten Finals appearances during his tenure from 2014 to 2022.
Austria's coaching career also includes stints with various other teams, such as Chowking, Shark Energy Drink, Welcoat/Rain or Shine, and the Adamson Falcons. With these teams, he consistently achieved semifinal appearances and, in some cases, guided them to their first-ever Final Four appearances.
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Frequently asked questions
Leo Austria was born in Sariaya, Quezon, Philippines.
Leo Austria is a retired Filipino professional basketball player and coach.
Austria played for Shell, Pepsi, and Chowking.
Austria has coached the Welcoat Dragons, Shell Turbo Chargers, Chowking, Shark Energy Drink, Welcoat/Rain or Shine, Adamson Falcons, and San Miguel Beermen.
