Austrias face-off in teams' last elims game

When UAAP Season 69 juniors MVP Bacon Austria suited up for the Blue Eagles, he was just like any other blue-chip recruit trying to find his niche in the seniors division.

When the 2008 season opened, however, things became a little more complicated for the college sophomore—with his father, decorated basketball player and coach Leo Austria returned to coach the Adamson Falcons. "One week before [Ateneo vs Adamson games], we don't really talk that much… for I might tell him something about my team or his team," the younger Austria told GMA News Online. Things are bound to get a little more interesting between the father and son especially with Saturday's game between Ateneo and Adamson, a crucial one for both teams, out to settle whether the Blue Eagles will earn an outright finals berth or can the Falcons foil their opponents' bid. Saturday's big game All eyes are set on the showdown between the UAAP's two blue birds—an Ateneo win will give the three-time champs an automatic finals berth with a thrice-to-beat advantage to boot, forcing the three other squads into a step-ladder format. An Adamson victory, meanwhile, would give them a stronger chance of finishing second in the eliminations while denying Ateneo of an automatic finals appearance. The elder Austria has already anticipated being at the center of everyone's attention, quite literally. "When [Bacon] takes free throws during a game, the Ateneo crowd looks at me, waiting to see my reaction—that's why I've mastered a 'no reaction' look," he said, acting out his usual deadpan stare during a separate interview with GMA News Online a day before their Saturday showdown. Before the interview begins, coach Leo admits, "I actually haven't seen Bacon in a while." The past few days have been intense for the Falcons squad, he said. On Friday, the school held a pep rally for the men's basketball team in preparation for Saturday's game. His father's busy week might be very well to Bacon's advantage, admitting that the household usually feels a shift in mood the week prior to an Ateneo-Adamson game. "Napapansin ko, basta [Adamson] kalaban, five days before the game, iba na yung body language niya," said the senior Austria of his son. "Sometimes nagbibiro ako eh, 'bakit kung tayo yung magkalaban, iba yung conditioning mo?'" he added. 14-0, No. 2 slot at stake The tension between Ateneo and Adamson has been high for the past few seasons—despite Ateneo's three-peat championship run, Adamson has always been a tough enemy for the Eagles. Save for a handful, games against the Austria-led San Marcelino-based squad have always been close. Coach Leo acknowledges the pressure his boys face on Saturday—aside from preventing a sweep, there's that win-streak Ateneo has had over Adamson. "May perception yung mga tao that we're the only team that can beat Ateneo." If Ateneo wins on Saturday, it will be the 30th straight for the Blue and White against the Falcons. "We're very hungry for this win because we haven't beaten Ateneo since 1997," said coach Leo, fresh off a morning practice with his squad. The Norman Black-coached quintet, meanwhile, are just as hungry for the win which would give them a shortcut to the finals. Even before the UAAP season began, the Blue Eagles have been the favorites to win, with the key additions of Keifer Ravena and Greg Slaughter. Adamson felt that same way during last year's Final Four, when it went against the second-seeded Blue Eagles. Unlike previous meetings between the two, Ateneo clobbered the Falcons, 68-55, to end their season. The younger Austria said that the semis game last year was memorable, but for different reasons. That morning, he said, his mother and sister left the house early to watch his younger brother's Eaglets game—leaving him and his dad alone in the house, up until the game. "Hindi naman talaga namin pinag-uusapan yung game on the day itself," he said. "At binilisan ko rin yung kain," he added, laughing. Bacon admitted that avoiding basketball is harder said than done in the Austria household. "But after the game, we talk about it—anong nangyari sa team niya, or what we did that made us win." Basketball is just basketball "Sa akin, bale wala. It's just a game, it's just a sport. But the UAAP is a different tournament," said coach Leo, recalling the first time he faced his son. He told GMA News Online that Bacon was absent for most of the first half, only to explode in the final two periods. "He was the reason they beat us," coach Leo added. "We're all professionals—it's just a sport and we have to treat this professionally. Bacon doesn't have as much experience as me so I guess that's why he [seems to feel] the pressure," said the older Austria. The UAAP conspiracy theorists out there can cross out one theory: that Adamson can't beat Ateneo because of the Austria connection. In fact, coach Leo reminds his boys that it's okay to be tough inside the court, even on his own son. "Don't treat him as my son [during the game]." During a FilOil game against Ateneo, Adamson's William Stinnett gave Bacon a hard foul as he was driving to the basket. After the foul, Stinnett approached the Adamson coach to apologize. "I told him, 'No! It's a game. Okay lang, don't worry about me.'" "Even if you hurt him, it's okay… as long as it's not intentional and it's really part of the game," he said, repeating his instructions to the entire Falcons. Bacon knows as much. "Professionally, I'm sure magagalit siya sa players niya [if they let me score over them] but, say, I score 20 points, I'm sure deep inside he'd still be happy." It also helps, Bacon said, that his father and Blue Eagle coach Norman Black are also friends, and have even worked together in an Ateneo-Adamson hybrid team that was sent to Hong Kong. 'Win-win' For sure when the two teams meet for their 3 p.m. match at the Araneta Coliseum , it's going to be extra exciting for both teams, the crowd included—for one, it's a chance to pull-off the rare 14-0 record and for the other, it's the chance to snap a 29-game losing streak and deny the top team an automatic finals berth. "Emotions will be very high (Saturday) for both teams. Lalo na sa amin because if we lose, we would have to rely on the outcome of the Sunday games [for the step-ladder rankings]," said coach Leo. For Bacon, meanwhile, there's also a desire to win it all, especially because it's his final year as a Blue Eagle. 'First mentality ko was to think that everything was my last game. Ngayon, di ko na iniisip na last game na—I play the game I should play while knowing na kailangan every game, bigay ko na lahat," he said. Tensions aside, the father-son duo agreed that whichever team wins on Saturday, one woman is sure to come out victorious. "My wife is in a situation na napaka-ganda. Whoever wins, panalo pa rin siya," the Adamson coach said, laughing. Bacon isn't short with praises for his father, either. "My dad is used to taking a team that isn't doing well tapos nagagawan niya ng paraan to be a contender. I think Adamson's going to be okay in the next few years until my dad's still there." The Adamson coach, who Bacon said is always looking for perfection in basketball, revealed his soft side during the interview, when asked how he would feel if his son made a game-winning shot for Ateneo on Saturday. "Kung mananalo siya, I should be proud of him because it's his shot. Pero nasa kanya yung pressure [to sink his shot]. Kung pumasok 'yun, anong magagawa ko eh magaling anak ko?" joked the older Austria. But for sure, the Adamson coach and his players will do whatever it takes to stop the 13-0 Blue Eagles from notching a 14th win. The Blue Eagles are guaranteed to exert as much effort, with Black already talking to media about their preparations for the sweep. "For the two hours that we're on court, wala munang pamilya-pamilya. You have to get the job done," said the younger Austria. — JVP, GMA News