Austria admits playoff struggles helped build winning character, especially for SMB's first-time champs

The 2022 PBA Philippine Cup title was an unexpected championship for San Miguel head coach Leo Austria.

"I cannot imagine that we will win another championship in spite of struggling pagdating sa playoffs," Austria admitted in a post-game conference on Sunday.

SMB went up against the Meralco Bolts in a semifinals series that reached Game 7.

In the Finals, SMB were down 3-2 in the series before they won the crown.

"I know our players are determined to win the game," Austria said.

Austria credited their struggles in the playoffs and the finals for building a winning character for the players, especially those who won the championship for the first time.

"Ang mga players namin ay more than half ay galing sa ibang team and didn't have experience in a championship. I think nakabuti sa'min ang playoffs game namin dahil we were able to develop a winning character," the champion coach said.

The players who won their first PBA title include CJ Perez, Simon Enciso, Vic Manuel, and Mo Tautuaa.

"I'm so happy with the players because they learned how to win a championship."

SMB took the All-Filipino title after defeating TNT in Game 7, 119-97.

—JMB, GMA News