San Miguel Beer head coach Leo Austria is choosing optimism over disappointment after his team fell to Barangay Ginebra in the opening game of their PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals series. The Beermen lost 99-90 last Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, but Austria is already looking ahead to the critical Game 2 this Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
A Wake-Up Call for the Beermen
Austria described the defeat as a necessary jolt for his squad. "It was like a wake-up call, and my players know how difficult it is to fall behind 0-2," the coach stated in a mix of Filipino and English. He anticipates a strong response, promising, "Game 2 will definitely be an exciting game for us." The team's spirit remains high despite the setback, with Austria noting that no player is hanging their head and everyone is eager to bounce back.
Analyzing the Game 1 Breakdown
The Gin Kings secured their victory behind a balanced attack. Key contributions came from RJ Abarrientos, Scottie Thompson, a surprising Ralph Cu, Japeth Aguilar, and Norbert Torres, who was tasked with defending SMB's towering center, June Mar Fajardo.
Despite the defensive attention, Fajardo delivered a monstrous performance with 27 points and 23 rebounds in just 30 minutes. Support, however, was scarce. Beyond Cjay Perez and Marcio Lassiter, the Beermen's production dropped off sharply. The team's usually potent bench mob, led by Mo Tautuaa, Don Trollano, and Jericho Cruz, was a major letdown. Averaging a league-best 57.5 points per game, they managed only 29 points in the opener.
Injuries played a significant role in their poor showing. Austria revealed that Don Trollano played with a sore back, and Jericho Cruz was hampered by a nagging hamstring issue, the duo combining for just nine points. The bigger concern was backup center Mo Tautuaa, who was limited to eight minutes and three points due to a shoulder injury. Austria admitted he might have rushed Tautuaa back too soon, hoping he could at least provide defensive and rebounding help to preserve Fajardo.
Compounding these issues was a dismal 15-of-31 (48.4%) shooting performance from the free-throw line, which cost the team valuable points in a close contest.
Ginebra Braces for a Fierce Counter-Attack
On the opposing bench, Ginebra's veteran coach Tim Cone is fully aware that San Miguel is capable of a rapid turnaround. He specifically pointed to Don Trollano, who entered the series averaging over 16 points per game, as a prime candidate for a breakout performance in Game 2.
"Game 2 is going to be a completely different game," Cone warned after Sunday's win. "He's probably gonna come out and go 10-for-15 in the next game... Don could have the big game. So it could just flip-flop the next game." Cone emphasized that his team will focus on controlling what they can, expecting a much tougher challenge.
Austria is banking on his team's collective pride and experience to level the series. With his players understanding the gravity of another loss, all eyes are now on the Smart Araneta Coliseum this Wednesday to see if the Beermen can answer their coach's call and tie the best-of-seven semifinals at one game apiece.
