Defense does it for San Miguel

MANILA, Philippines - San Miguel Beer coach Ato Agustin hasn’t missed a beat since taking over the helm of the PBA’s winningest franchise and points to the team’s defense as the key to its five-game winning streak in the Philippine Cup.

“There’s no off-day in defense,” said Agustin after the Beermen crushed Meralco, 86-77, at the Araneta Coliseum last Wednesday. “If you play good defense, it leads to good offense. We were outrebounded in our last two games but still found a way to win.”

San Miguel shoots for six victories in a row against Rain Or Shine in the first game of a PBA doubleheader at the Big Dome starting at 4 p.m. today.

Agustin’s knack for squeezing out a victory in tight situations is a gift that he brings from his championship stints as a coach for Excelroof in the PBL and San Sebastian College in the NCAA.

What makes Agustin so effective on the bench is his player’s mentality. Of the PBA’s 10 coaches today, only two are ex-pros – Agustin and B-Meg’s Jorge Gallent who saw action in five games over two seasons for Tanduay in 1999-2000. By far, Agustin understands more than any other coach how a player feels and thinks on the court. The “Atom Bomb” from Lubao played for San Miguel, Sunkist/Pop Cola, Mobiline, Sta. Lucia Realty and Red Bull in 12 PBA seasons, averaging 14.0 points in 569 games. He was on San Miguel’s grand slam squad in 1996 and finished his career in 2001 with seven titles, six with the Beermen and one with Red Bull.

In 1998, Agustin tested the MBA waters and took MVP honors with the Pampanga Dragons before returning to the PBA. His PBA awards include the MVP in 1992, Most Improved Player in 1991 and Comeback Player of the Year in 2000.

No wonder San Miguel guard Alex (Crunchtime) Cabagnot calls Agustin “a players’ coach.”

Cabagnot, who hit buzzer-beaters to lift San Miguel to two-point wins over Alaska and B-Meg last week, said it’s a blessing to play for the Beermen and Agustin.

“I’ve played in the PBA since 2005-06 and gone through eight coaches before coach Ato,” said Cabagnot. “I’ve learned a lot from everyone – from Alfrancis Chua, Boyet Fernandez, Binky Favis, Kenneth Duremdes, Bo Perasol, Yeng Guiao, Siot Tanquingcen and Gee Abanilla. Now, I’m learning a lot from coach Ato. This is the first time I’m playing for a winning team and it finally came in my sixth season. San Miguel is a first-class organization. I’m surrounded by all-stars and it makes my job as point guard easier. Most of all, coach Ato lets us play our game. He gives us freedom, much like coach Yeng.”

Cabagnot said playing under Tanquingcen and now, Agustin has entailed some adjustment. “Coach Siot is like coach Binky in that they’re very defense-minded, very structured,” he said. “It’s different with coach Ato. While we’ve had a coaching change, the team’s a constant. I’m excited that coach Ato trusts in my decision-making on the floor. We’re winning because we play as a team. I got lucky to be named Player of the Week but it could’ve gone to either Jay-Wash or Dondon (Hontiveros).”

In San Miguel’s 85-83 win over B-Meg, Cabagnot said he looked to pass instead of shoot with the score tied, time down to about four seconds. “I wanted to give it to Danny Seigle, I mean, Danny S is Danny S, and if you need a basket, you go to Danny S,” he said. “I waited for Rico Maierhofer to sag off Danny S and approach me but he didn’t. So I decided to go for the shot. Luckily, I made the reverse layup for the win.”

Agustin, 47, probably sees something in Cabagnot of himself.

While Agustin wound up affairs as San Sebastian coach, his assistant Abanilla called the shots for San Miguel in its first two games this conference, beating Air 21, 100-86, and losing to Talk ‘N’ Text, 97-83. Then, Agustin moved in and San Miguel has raced to five straight wins, limiting opponents to 83.8 points a game – an improvement of five points from last season.

Curiously, San Miguel was outrebounded in its last two games – 54-40 by B-Meg and 48-38 by Meralco. Still, the Beermen won both contests by holding the Llamados and Bolts to 41 percent shooting. Additionally, San Miguel’s defense forced 19 turnovers on B-Meg and 22 on Meralco.

“We’re working on a lot of things to improve,” said Agustin. “Rebounding is an area we want to get better. It’s just a matter of reminding the guys to take care of the boards.”

Cabagnot said since each team plays only 14 games in the eliminations, it’s vital to pick up as many wins early to avoid catching up down the stretch. In the previous conference, teams played 18 games in the eliminations.          

This season, San Miguel has signed up only one rookie – San Francisco-born Vaughn Canta whose parents are both Filipinos. Canta, 23, is a 6-2 guard from Consumnes River Junior College in Sacramento and Yuba College in Marysville, both in California. He would’ve been Magnolia’s direct-hire if the PBL draft took place this year. Canta was not picked in the PBA draft.

There were three close calls in Agustin’s 5-0 record so far. San Miguel barely defeated Barangay Ginebra, 69-68, Alaska, 99-97 and B-Meg, 85-83. But it’s more than just luck going for Agustin – it’s also his winning tradition and player’s mentality.