If not for a crucial sporting change in his senior year in high school, Leo Austria probably would not have become an eight-time PBA champion coach. In fact, he might not have had any connection to basketball at all.
In a recent episode of An Eternity of Basketball hosted by ESPN5.com's Charlie Cuna, Sid Ventura and Noel Zarate, Austria revealed he had actually been a varsity player first for his high school's volleyball team in Sariaya, Quezon before permanently shifting to basketball.
Positioning was vague back in the day according to Austria, but at 5'10, he was tall and explosive enough to find success as the team's spiker.
"Nung araw, walang mga position 'yan eh," he said. "Most of the time, gusto ko ako 'yung nasa front kasi ako 'yung medyo malakas tumalon."
"Hindi ako setter nun kasi 'yung mas sikat nun, pumapalo eh," he added with a laugh. "Ang maganda lang dun kapag volleyball player ka, alert ka at 'yung reflexes mo, at any position pwede ka tumalon."
Austria played volleyball from first year to third year but eventually fell in love with basketball after finding the hoop and big town crowds to be more alluring.
"Mas masaya basketball. Lalo na sa probinsya, kapag naglaro ka buong plaza. Pwede ka nga magnakaw sa mga bahay-bahay dahil lahat ng tao nandiyan sa plaza nanonood," he joked.
Coming to Manila
Initially hesitant to play against older, more physically mature players in his first three years, Austria finally mustered enough courage to try out for his school's basketball team during his senior year.
The move felt natural and paid off immediately. Austria's school won the regional meet for the first time, and the young guard attracted the eyes of "good Samaritans" that brought him to Manila to try out for an athletic scholarship.
Adamson was his first landing spot and he was set to log big minutes immediately after future Hall of Famer Hector Calma was selected to play for the national team, but his UAAP stint ended way before he could officially play a single game for the Soaring Falcons.
"Two weeks before the opening, lumabas 'yung pangalan ko sa isang tabloid, 'yung results ng game sa Filipino-Chinese Basketball Association," said Austria, who said he played in the commercial league for additional allowance.
"Nakita nung athletic director ng Adamson, tinawag ako, sabi sa'kin, 'Ikaw ba itong Austria na gumawa ng eight points?' I'm so proud of it. Sabi ko, 'Yes, sir!' Sabi niya sa'kin, 'Tarantado ka pala!'" he laughed. "I just came from the province. Ignorante pa tayo nun eh. Hindi ko alam kung ano 'yung rules ng UAAP or NCAA."
Unable to play in Adamson, Austria found a new home in Lyceum, which was then in the Manila Universities and Colleges Athletic Association (MUCAA), after Boy Afable, the Pirates' head coach who was incidentally also his mentor in the Filipino-Chinese league, offered him a chance to play in college and in the commercial league at the same time. Among his teammates were future pros Ricky Cui and Dante Gonzalgo.
PABL and PBA
Austria later suited up for Masagana 99 in the Philippine Amateur Basketball League during a time when he embodied the spirit of the "basketball is life" mantra.
His schedule was packed: at 8 a.m, Austria would practice with Masagana before heading over to Lyceum for a 1 p.m practice under the sweltering heat of the school's open court. He'd attend classes from 4 to 7 p.m before walking from his campus in Lyceum to Quiapo to grab some dinner and hitch a ride to Elliptical Road, where his quarters with Masagana was located.
After winning years with Masagana and some individual success with Lyceum, Austria made his way to the PBA and was selected by Shell in the fourth round of the first-ever Rookie Draft in 1985.
Austria ended up being the lowest pick ever to win the Rookie of the Year award after making an impact in his first year with the Azodrin Bugbusters. The guard scored 3.9 points per game during that year.
"Wala sa akin 'yung mga award award eh. Inisip ko lang kailangan maka-survive ako sa paglalaro. Actually, kung first round pick ka or first pick, it doesn't matter sa'kin," he said when asked if he ever expected winning the ROY award.
His PBA career wasn't exactly stellar, but Austria's nine-year stint was fruitful enough to open doors for him after his playing days in Asia's first pay-for-play league. Austria played a key role with Formula Shell during the 1990 First Conference, when the franchise won its first-ever title. This was also Austria's lone championship as a player.
Austria also merited a spot in the starting five more often than not, but he says Shell's coaching carousel may have repeatedly stalled his development.
In his years with the franchise, Austria played under Freddie Webb, Ed Ocampo, Joe Lipa, Bobby Parks, Charlie Favis, Dante Silverio, Arlene Rodriguez and Rino Salazar.
"Tuwing aakyat na ang laro at makaka-establish na ko, magpapalit ng coach. Usually 'yung mga coach kapag pumasok 'yan, magdadala ng sariling player nila," he said. "It's normal for a coach. Naapektuhan lang talaga 'yung progression ng career ko nung time na 'yun. Imagine, palit nang palit ng coach every year. First five na ko, mababalik ako sa bench."
Austria also played with two Hall of Famers and members of the 25 Greatest Players list in Bernie Fabiosa at the beginning of his career and Ronnie Magsanoc at the tail end of his playing days in the PBA.
"Talagang walang kinatatakutan ito kapag naglalaro," he said of Fabiosa. "He really takes care of the distribution of the ball and he's the director of the team. When it comes to defense, talagang pesky si Bernie. One of the best point guards. Kaya lang di nahi-highlight kasi usually ang tinitingnan 'yung mga scorer. Para sa kanya, it doesn't matter if 'di ka umiskor as long as nagagawa mo 'yung role mo."
Magsanoc played a little differently but was nonetheless effective, according to Austria.
"For him to shine, he has to score," he shared. "You can consider him one of the best scoring guards."
Austria left the league in 1993 but returned nine years later to kickstart a PBA coaching career that would land him eight titles and three Coach of the Year awards later on.