THE PBA Philippine Cup finals between San Miguel and TNT is also going to be a personal race on the part of coaches Leo Austria and Chot Reyes.
Going to the best-of-seven title series, the two champion mentors are tied for the most number of All-Filipino championships with six each.
So the winner of the final conference of Season 49 owns the bragging rights as the most successful coach as far as the league's crown jewel is concerned.
Reyes. though tried to downplay the personal battle between him and Austria, stressing the finals is all about team play.
"Our job is to win games. Our job is to win four games. If you think you have the fortune and the talent to win it, then so be it," said the TNT coach during the presser for the coming best-of-seven title series Friday night at the Chardonnay by Astoria.
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Austria agreed.
"We're here to win games, and eventually, the championship," added the San Miguel mentor.
This marks only the second title duel between Austria and Reyes, with the Beermen side winning its initial matchup during the 2022 All-Filipino conference in a best-of-seven finals that went the distance, 119-97.
It was the last championship stint by the 67-year-old Austria.
But everything is all in the past, according to the San Miguel coach.
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"It's nice to be back in the finals, especially in the All-Filipino. But it's really a different story now," he said.
"We know everybody is thinking na SMB is a really mighty team. But TNT is equally talented. They're really strong," Austria added. "They've won two championships in the last two conferences. That's experience and it's really something they can dwell on."(RG)
