Leo Austria

Leo Austria

Leo Austria (center) in a San Miguel Beermen huddle
San Miguel Beermen
Position	Head coach
League	PBA
Personal information
Born	March 14, 1958 Sariaya, Quezon, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Career information
College	Lyceum of the Philippines University
PBA draft	1985 / Round: 4
Selected by the Shell Azodrin Bugbusters
Playing career	1985–1993
Career history
As player:
1985–1993	Formula Shell, Pepsi
1999	Chowking Fastfood Kings (PBL)
As coach:
1998–2002	Chowking Fastfood Kings/Shark Energy Drink Power Boosters (PBL)
2002–2004	Welcoat Paintmasters (PBL)
2004–2005	Shell Turbo Chargers (PBA)
2005	Adamson Falcons (UAAP)
2006	Welcoat Paintmasters (PBL)
2006–2008	Welcoat Dragons (PBA)
2008–2013	Adamson Falcons (UAAP)
2012–2013	San Miguel Beermen (ABL)
2014–present	San Miguel Beermen (PBA)
Career highlights and awards
As coach 3× PBA Champion 2014–15 Philippine 2015 Governors' 2015–16 Philippine 3 Finals Appearances 2× PBA Baby Dalupan Coach of the Year (2015, 2016) PBA All-Star Game head coach (2016) 2002 PBL Challenge Cup Champion 2013 ABL Coach of the Year 2013 ABL Champion As player 1x PBA Champion 1990 First Conference 1985 PBA Rookie of the Year 1988 Quezon Medalya ng Karangalan Award for Sports

Leovino R. Austria (born March 14, 1958) better known as Leo Austria, born in Sariaya, Quezon, is a Filipino retired professional basketball player and the current head coach of the San Miguel Beermen in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Playing career

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.^[1] 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.^[2] During his stint at Shell, he played backup point guard for Bernie Fabiosa, Al Solis, then Ronnie Magsanoc.^[2] 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.^[2]

In 1988, he was awarded the Quezon Medalya ng Karangalan Award for Sports.^[3] The QMK Award is given to outstanding Quezonians who exceled 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

Philippine Basketball League

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

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

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.^[4]

Rain or Shine Elasto Painters/Welcoat Dragons

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)

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.^[5]

San Miguel Beermen in the PBA

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.^[6] 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.

Coaching record

Professional record

Season	Conference	Team	Elims./Clas. round					Playoffs
			PG	W	L	PCT	Finish	PG	W	L	PCT	Results
2004–05	Philippine Cup	SHL	18	12	6	.667	3rd	4	0	4	.000	Lost in third-place playoff
	Fiesta	SHL	18	7	11	.389	9th	8	5	3	.625	Won in third-place playoff
2005–06	Fiesta	(Coached for the Adamson Falcons)
	Philippine Cup
2006–07	Philippine Cup	WEL	18	3	15	.167	10th	0				Did not qualify
	Fiesta	WEL	18	4	14	.222	10th	0				Did not qualify
2007–08	Philippine Cup	WEL	18	4	14	.222	10th	0				Did not qualify
2013	ABL	SMB	22	19	3	.863	1st	7	6	1	.857	Won the Finals
2014–15	Philippine Cup	SMB	11	9	2	.818	1st	11	8	3	.727	Won the Finals
	Commissioner's Cup	SMB	11	4	7	.364	9th	0				Did not qualify
	Governors' Cup	SMB	11	8	3	.727	1st	10	8	2	.800	Won the Finals
2015–16	Philippine Cup	SMB	11	9	2	.818	2nd	13	8	5	.615	Won the Finals
Totals			156	79	77	.506		53	35	18	.660	4 championships

Collegiate record

Season	Team	Eliminations				Playoffs
		W	L	PCT	Finish	PG	W	L	PCT	Results
2006	AdU	6	6	.500	4th	2	0	2	.000	Lost to UST in the 3rd-seed playoff, Lost to Ateneo in the semifinals
2007	(Coached for the Welcoat Dragons)
2008	AdU	3	11	.214	7th					Did not qualify
2009	AdU	5	9	.358	5th					Did not qualify
2010	AdU	9	5	.643	3rd	1	0	1	.000	Lost to Ateneo in the semifinals
2011	AdU	10	4	.714	2nd	2	0	2	.000	Lost to FEU in the semifinals
2012	AdU	3	11	.214	6th					Did not qualify
2013	AdU	4	10	.286	7th					Did not qualify
Totals		40	56	.416		5	0	5	.000	0 championships

References

1. https://edmon1974.wordpress.com/2013/10/22/1983-pabl-founders-cup/
2. Santos, Rickie (1990), 1989-1990 PBA Annual, Pasig City, Philippines: Philippine Basketball Association, p. 90
3. http://www.quezon.gov.ph/homepage/?info=qmk&awardees=completelist
4. https://ph.sports.yahoo.com/news/austria-to-take-a-break--says-adamson-got-left-behind-in-recruiting-021801682.html
5. http://www.aseanbasketballleague.com/news/detail/7295/san-miguel-beermen-s-leo-austria-wins-the-2013-coach-of-the-year-award
6. http://www.spin.ph/basketball/news/leo-austria-san-miguel-beermen-head-coach-pba

External links

• The top 20 players of the PBL
• Ex-player Austria named new Shell Turbochargers coach
• Past Quezon Medalya ng Karangalan awardees (Leo Austria was awarded the QMK for Sports in 1988)