Austria keeps focus in Game 4 despite "idol" Jaworski watching

Ginebra legend Robert Jaworski was in the building. PBA Media Bureau

By Ivan Saldajeno

PASAY--Two of the pillars of the PBA, former senator Robert Jaworski and PSC commissioner Mon Fernandez, came to watch their respective former teams collide in Game 4 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals on Thursday night.

Teammates during the league's primitive years with Toyota, Jaworski and Fernandez ended their colorful professional basketball careers with Ginebra and San Miguel respectively, and both hoop legends paid the Mall of Asia Arena a visit to see their teams in action.

In the end, Fernandez's Beermen had the last laugh over Jaworski's Barangay as they go 3-1 up in the best-of-seven series.

[Related Story: SMB impresses in front of former star Fernandez, mauls Ginebra for 3-1 lead]

But Coach Leo Austria, who calls Jaworski a childhood idol, insisted that he was not there to impress him.

"[It had] nothing to do with the presence of my idol, Coach Jaworski dahil yung mga players, focused," Austria said.

Austria, however, admitted that SMB was so hungry to win Game 4 following a loss two nights back in Game 3.

[Related Story: Ginebra bounces back with Game 3 win vs SMB]

"They were embarrassed last game," he bared. "If you noticed yung last game namin, they were relaxed."

While the Beermen still held a 2-1 lead entering Game 4, Austria called it "an uncomfortable situation," and he reminded them before the game to "be comfortable" in this kind of scenario.

"That's what happened, especially Junemar [Fajardo]. [He had] 18 minutes in the second half, pero kayang-kaya niya, and we're able to rest him because malaki na yung lamang," Austria lauded his team, especially the 6-foot-10 behemoth.

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