PBA: Leo Austria to miss more San Miguel games after undergoing angioplasty

San Miguel head coach Leo Austria was finally seen on the Beermen's bench on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum after missing their last three games in the PBA Season 50 Governors' Cup.

However, the multi-titled tactician has yet to call the shots as San Miguel absorbed a 110-96 loss to NLEX — its first defeat of the conference.

Austria later revealed that he underwent an angioplasty on July 7 and is still recovering from the major heart procedure that kept him out of San Miguel's first three wins against Macau, Terrafirma, and Converge.

"June 18, we have a medical check-up para maka-comply kami sa renewal ng GAB (Games and Amusements Board) license and sa result, we found out that there's something wrong with my ECG," Austria told reporters after the loss.

"To confirm everything, kailangan mag-undergo ako ng angiogram, and then na-confirm na may arteries are blocked."

"The last three weeks before that examination, I'm doing well. I'm so lucky because the doctor told me na 'You're a walking bomb.' Buti hindi ako nag-collapse."

The 68-year-old Austria shared that while he has already obtained a medical certificate from his doctors, he has yet to receive the go signal to return to the sidelines as he continues to recover from the side effects of the medication he is taking.

According to the 11-time PBA champion coach, it will take at least three or four more weeks for him to return to his old form.

"It's a matter of a few games before I go back to coaching," Austria added.

"Yes [okay na ako], except sa kulang sa tulog, I cannot focus on my practice plan because sa [side] effects. Pero once na na-eliminate ko na 'yun, I think I will be back. Regarding my heart, wala namang problema. Maintenance na lang."

San Miguel head coach Leo Austria recently underwent angioplasty and is now recovering. Here’s his update @gmasportsph pic.twitter.com/pRlb9Yt5md

— JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) July 26, 2026

Without Austria, assistant coach Peter Martin was assigned to take over the coaching duties.

Still, Austria is hoping to return to the sidelines soon.

"Yeah, kaya binigyan ako ng medical certificate. For the meantime, I have to focus sa walking and then 'yung sleeping ko."

—JKC, GMA News