San Miguel Beer head coach Leo Austria knows exactly what’s on TNT Tropang 5G’s mind after the defending champion booked the last seat in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Philippine Cup finals.
Six months after the Beermen denied the Tropang 5G of a grand slam in the season-ending tournament, it’s just natural for the Chot Reyes-mentored squad to seek payback.
Austria and the rest of San Miguel are aware of what to expect when the best-of-seven series kicks off on Wednesday at the Ynares Center-Antipolo.
“I think they’re thinking how to get back at us because last conference we beat them in the finals,” Austria said, adding that they have to be at their best to avoid the wrath of the scorned Tropang 5G.
The Beermen punched a second straight finals appearance after disposing of Barangay Ginebra in the Final Four in six games.
San Miguel rode on the back of CJ Perez’s historic first quarter explosion, where he shot 12-of-12 from the field and scored 30 of his career-high 41 points, to eliminate the Kings, 101-88, to close their semis rematch, 4-2, on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After getting rid of their pesky sister team, the Beermen brace for an even tougher challenge protecting their throne against a squad raring not only to settle an unfinished business but also bidding to end a five-year all-Filipino conference title drought.
“We all know how hard it is to defeat TNT, especially it’s experience in the last three conferences. They’re in the (last three) finals,” Austria said.
The Tropang 5G advanced to a fourth championship series in a row after booting out the 2024 champion Meralco in five games.
TNT has the luxury of extra days of preparation after closing out its series last Wednesday.
The Tropang 5G need the added rest to recover, especially with starting guard RR Pogoy nursing a hamstring injury that forced him to sit out the previous outing.
Reyes has expressed that TNT will come into the finals as the underdog, considering the size and depth of San Miguel led by nine-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo and Perez.
The Beermen also defeated the Tropng 5G, 110-95, in the elimination round during their nine-game roll after dropping their first two starts.
However, Austria refused to buy the TNT narrative.
“I think this will be an exciting game for us,” he said.
“Let’s see what will happen in the next few days. (But) In the meantime, we will take a break first. And then we have to plan what the strategy and game plan are for our championship series.”