Despite navigating the early stages of the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup without longtime head coach Leo Austria on the sidelines, the San Miguel Beermen have managed to establish themselves as one of the tournament’s early contenders.
The Beermen have opened their campaign with a 3-1 record, placing second in Group A after four games. Their impressive start, however, has come amid the absence of Austria, who has been recovering from a recent heart procedure that temporarily forced him away from coaching duties.
Austria made his first public appearance since undergoing treatment during San Miguel’s 110-96 loss to the NLEX Road Warriors at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, July 26. Although he was not on the bench, the 68-year-old coach watched the game from the stands before speaking to members of the media about the health scare that sidelined him for the opening stretch of the conference.
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The decorated mentor revealed that the issue was discovered during a routine medical examination required for the renewal of his Games and Amusements Board (GAB) coaching license.
“We had a medical check-up to comply with the renewal of our GAB licenses. The results showed that there was something wrong with my ECG. A week later, we got the results, and I immediately showed them to my cardiologists, Dr. Tony Leachon and Dr. Rommel Galvez,” Austria said.
His doctors subsequently recommended additional tests, including a stress test, after detecting irregularities in his initial results.
#WATCH: ANG PUSO KO PALA MAPAGMAHAL 🏀
Leo Austria reveals how a silent heart condition led to angioplasty, even though he felt healthy every day#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/rkNWRdXBOb
📹 @justinebacnis /Tiebreaker Times#PBA50 pic.twitter.com/Vv2YfSjoue
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) July 26, 2026
“He told me I had to undergo a stress test to determine the condition of my heart. After the scan, they found something abnormal. To confirm everything, I had to undergo an angiogram, and that’s when they confirmed that my arteries were blocked,” Austria explained.
Following the diagnosis, Austria underwent an angioplasty, a minimally invasive procedure performed to restore blood flow by opening blocked coronary arteries. He was discharged from the hospital on July 9 and has since been focusing on his recovery while closely monitoring his condition.
Austria admitted that he initially hoped to return to the sidelines in time for San Miguel’s season opener. However, team governor Robert Non—who previously underwent the same procedure—urged him to prioritize his health before making his comeback.
“For the first game, I thought I was already going to coach. Fortunately, Boss Robert was there and told me, ‘No, no, you have to take a rest,’ because he had gone through the same angioplasty. It’s not an easy procedure. I’m very thankful to him and coach Al Chua for giving me time to recover. I’m so grateful to them,” Austria said.
While Austria has remained away from the bench, the Beermen have continued to perform at a high level under the guidance of the coaching staff, collecting three victories in their first four assignments before suffering their first defeat against the Road Warriors. The team’s strong start has allowed San Miguel to remain firmly in the hunt near the top of the Group A standings despite the absence of one of the league’s most accomplished coaches.
Austria, who has guided the Beermen to 11 PBA championships during his illustrious coaching career, expressed confidence that his return is only a matter of time. Although he declined to provide a definitive timetable, he believes he will be back on the sidelines once he fully adjusts to the medication prescribed following the procedure and regains full strength.
“It’s only a matter of a few more games before I return to coaching. Bypass surgery is much more difficult. That’s why I’m confident I can come back. It’s just a matter of time. I just need to make sure I return at 100 percent,” Austria said.
For San Miguel, Austria’s recovery remains the top priority. With the Beermen continuing to deliver positive results in his absence, the organization has afforded its veteran tactician the time and support needed to make a complete recovery before resuming his coaching responsibilities. Should the team’s early form continue, Austria could soon return to a squad well-positioned to challenge for yet another Governors’ Cup title.
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