After all, Austria did not just watch Ronald Tubid play for the University of the East as a Red Warrior who left everything he had on the court. Austria also coached the Turbo Chargers Gameboy in the Philippine Basketball League.
"Alam ko yang batang yan, basta sa laro, parang nagpapakamatay yan," said Austria.
Tubid, a sweet-shooting guard who also has the gravity-defying talent to attack the hoop with blind ferocity, was drafted by Shell last year in the second round despite the fact that then coach Perry Ronquillo needed a big man.
"I personally liked his attitude in games," Ronquillo said then.
Tubid did not fail him. For a stretch in last year’s All-Filipino Cup, Tubid was actually scoring better than eight of the top 10 rookies picked in his batch, averaging 15.5 points through the first two months of the season, and his offensive output always determined Shell’s faith.
But somewhere between Shell’s collapse and its hiring of John Moran this year, Tubid got lost in the rotation of the Turbo Chargers.
The low point was when, amid a skid that had become familiar to the team, Tubid rallied Shell only to be pulled out of a game during the most crucial minutes in a loss to FedEx.
"Kulang lang siguro sa amin yung rotation sa tao," said a disappointed Tubid after that match.
And then came Austria.
His hiring was one that Tubid was all excited about.
"Siyempre, kilala ko siya at alam ko yung sistema niya. Kaya kumportable ako na siya yung coach namin," said Tubid.
Despite lagging at a 6-10 record in the ongoing Fiesta Cup, Shell has found a bright spot in Tubid, who is averaging 11.8 points and a little over three rebounds per game, making 30 percent of his three-point shots.
Shell, which struggled at the start, has now picked up a little steam and is in contention for the playoffs.
And Tubid, who hardly got playing time under Moran, is flourishing under Austria. Popping jumpers and completing his trademark drives to the basket, this devil of a saint is slowly turning out to be among the league’s best performers.
"Basta ako, laro lang ng laro," he said.
This time, the Turbo Chargers hope Austria will always find him in the team’s regular rotation.