John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

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Paige Javier

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769054668832PBA IMAGES17.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="San Miguel coach Leo Austria. PBA Images"/>San Miguel coach Leo Austria. PBA Images</div>ANTIPOLO, Rizal – San Miguel Beermen head coach Leo Austria said their tough PBA 50 Philippine Cup Finals Game 1 loss boiled down to their bench mob being outscored by the TNT Tropang 5G.Speaking to reporters after the 96-91 defeat on Wednesday, Austria said it was difficult to get the win when they were playing catchup most of the match.&quot;I think it&#x27;s very clear, you know, the first quarter or the first half you know is the culprit. Because we didn&#x27;t play the way we played before,&quot; Austria said.&quot;They have a very clear game plan to stop our bench, especially &#x27;yung mga perimeter shooters namin,&quot; he added.The Beermen’s bench was limited especially on offense in Game 1, as they were outscored, 48-27, by the Tropang 5G.Don Trollano, who usually leads the Beermen’s bench mob, was held scoreless until the final frame.Trollano drained a crucial shot worth four points in the fourth quarter, ending with 1 of 7 shooting in the foiled comeback. &quot;Credit to the game plan of TNT, they were able to contain our shooters. If you noticed, ang gumawa sa amin ay puro big men. But our wingmen, especially the bench namin hindi sila masyado nag-score,&quot; Austria said.San Miguel&#x27;s big men June Mar Fajardo dropped 24 points and 17 rebounds, Mo Tautuaa added 22 markers and Rodney Brondial had 10 points.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/1/21/pba-tnt-averts-19-pt-collapse-draws-first-blood-against-san-miguel-2157">READ: PBA: TNT averts 19-pt collapse, draws first blood against San Miguel</a></div>CJ Perez was the only other San Miguel player in double digits with 16 markers, finishing with a dismal 29.4 percent shooting clip.Veteran guards Chris Ross and Marcio Lassiter both struggled from the field, missing all of their attempts from downtown.Despite their struggles, the champion coach reminded his team of the silver lining in the loss: their performance in the second half.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/1/21/pba-williams-embraces-role-of-keeping-everyone-steady-in-tnt-2347">READ: PBA: Williams embraces role of &#x27;keeping everyone steady&#x27; in TNT</a></div>San Miguel trailed by as much as 19 points in the first half, but the Beermen showed why they&#x27;re the defending champions and cut the lead to one in the final frame.&quot;The mere fact na we&#x27;re able to get that kind of production in the second half, the chance is still there. It&#x27;s a matter of mindet. This is a championship game. Every possession is very important, especially in the first quarter,&quot; Austria said.&quot;I think next time siguro mai-address namin lahat and we should have a better plan. This is a best of seven and we have to adjust,&quot; he added.The Beermen will have one day to regroup as they seek to bounce back against the Tropang 5G in Game 2 on Friday at Ynares Center in Antipolo.

San Miguel Beermen head coach Leo Austria said their tough PBA 50 Philippine Cup Finals Game 1 loss boiled down to their bench mob being outscored by the TNT Tropang 5G.

San Miguel Beermen head coach Leo Austria said their tough PBA 50 Philippine Cup Finals Game 1 loss boiled down to their bench mob being outscored by the TNT Tropang 5G.

San Miguel coach underscores need for adjustments after bench gets outscored in Game 1

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San Miguel coach underscores need for adjustments after bench gets outscored in Game 1

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 22, 2026 12:21 PM PHT

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basketball

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San Miguel Beermen

Leo Austria

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