SAN MIGUEL Beer Head Coach Leo Austria broke his silence on Wednesday, two days after the Beermen let go of Arwind Santos for NorthPort’s Vic Manuel.
“I cried,” Austria told BusinessMirror. “It was a heavy decision for me because he was very instrumental in the success of my coaching career, he helped my career prosper and we have very good camaraderie.”
Santos, 40, was in each and every game that saw Austria win his eight Philippine Basketball Association crowns in seven years with the Beermen.
Austria admitted that the coaching staff decided to pursue Manuel after they learned that NorthPort secured his services last week.
“So after two days, we came out with a decision to trade Santos, which team governor Robert Non approved,” he said.
The trade hit Santos hard.
“It’s also hard for him. It came out with a heavy heart, but all good things have an ending, it just happened early,” Austria said.
Austria said that he would miss the former Far Eastern University star’s “great defensive presence, superb athleticism and vast leadership inside the court”—qualities that guarantee benefits for any team or coach.
“He [Santos] knows his position defensively, he is a great shot blocker at 6-foot-4 with great timing,” he said. “He is also known for his great perimeter and three-point shooting and NorthPort would absolutely benefit in the trade because they acquired a true leader in Santos.”
Manuel, also 6-foot-4 but burlier, will provide the Beermen an inside offensive threat that would compliment Moala Tautuaa and 6-foot-11 six-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo in the Governors’ Cup that opens later this month.
“You need to double team Vic if you want to stop him—that’s one of the great assets we have on him,” Austria said. “So it will provide an opening for June Mar, CJ Perez and Tautuaa.”