MANILA – After missing the first three games of the conference, San Miguel head coach Leo Austria made his first appearance at the PBA 50 Governors' Cup on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Austria was seated behind the Beermen's bench, as assistant coach Peter Martin continued to call the shots against the NLEX Road Warriors.
The return of Austria was spoiled as San Miguel eventually fell to NLEX, 110-96, their first loss of the season-ending conference.
READ: NLEX avoids collapse to stay perfect, hand San Miguel first loss
Speaking to reporters after the game, Austria revealed he underwent an angioplasty, causing him to miss the first three assignments of the Beermen.
"June 18 meron kaming medical checkup para maka-comply doon sa renewal ng GAB [Games and Amusements Board] license. And then yung result, we found out there was something wrong with my ECG [electrocardiogram]," he shared.
Austria said he was feeling healthy at that time, but upon seeing the ECG results, he consulted cardiologists Dr. Tony Leachon and Dr. Rommel Galvez.
Prior to the checkup, Austria said he was still attending Beermen practices in preparation for the season-ending conference.
"He [Dr. Leachon] said sa akin, you have to undergo a stress test. Sa stress test makikita ko anong klaseng puso meron ka. Yung puso ko pala, mapagmahal eh. Hindi, I mean, nakita yung in-scan. There's something wrong. To confirm everything, kailangan mag-undergo ako ng angiogram. Angiogram and then na-confirm yun na my arteries is blocked," he shared.
"And then what happened? I keep on playing. And then, the last three weeks before the examination, I'm doing well. But I'm so lucky because the doctor told me na you're a walking bomb. Mabuti hindi ako nag-collapse," Austria said.
The San Miguel head coach said he underwent angioplasty on July 7, and was later given a medical certificate clearing him to return to work on July 9.
"Binigyan na ako ng medical certificate to go to work. But the problem is the effect, the side effect of medicine. Nagkaroon ng rebolusyon sa tiyan ko. Until now, bloated yung tiyan ko. Very uncomfortable. And the worst thing is, nangyayari yung bloating in the evening, 11 until the morning," Austria shared.
If it were up to him, Austria said he would have wanted to be present during the first game of San Miguel against the Macau Giant Pandas last July 14. However, San Miguel team governor Robert Non urged him to rest instead.
The 68-year-old coach assured he is fit to work after being cleared by his doctors, but he is still managing the side effects of the angioplasty procedure and the medicine.
"Once na-eliminate ko na yun, I think I'll be back on. Regarding sa my heart, ayun, wala nang problema. It's a maintenance na lang yun," the champion mentor said.
Austria believes it is only a matter of time before he returns to the sidelines to call the shots for the Beermen.
"Siyempre, of course, mayroong psychological effect dahil I found out na, ganoon pala yung angioplasty ganyan. Pero, mas mahirap yung bypass. It will take a lot of time. Pero, ayan I'm confident na I can go back. Just a matter of time, kailangan ko makabalik," he said.
The Beermen look to bounce back when they take on the Titan Ultra Giant Risers on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.