Gallent takes over as SMB head coach

MANILA, Philippines — San Miguel Beer is opening a new page with Jorge Gallent assuming the mantle as the Beermen’s head coach vice multi-titled Leo Austria, who slides down to being “consultant.”

Team manager Gee Abanilla said Austria, who steered SMB to nine titles from 2014 to 2022, including a Philippine Cup five-peat, wished to “take a coaching sabbatical for personal reasons.”

As such, he said the PBA’s winningest franchise granted Austria’s wish and handed the reins to Gallent, his long-time chief deputy.

“We respect his (Austria’s) decision and we understand his situation as we fully support whatever he needs,” Abanilla said. “With this development, he will remain with the team as a consultant and we have elevated coach Jorge Gallent as head coach.”

It won’t be a totally new territory for Gallent, though.

A former six-time champion mentor with Harbour Centre in the defunct Philippine Basketball League, Gallent coached B-Meg (now Magnolia) from 2010 to 2011 before joining SMB.

Gallent even had a dry-run of sorts in the last Commissioner’s Cup when he called the shots for seven games, winning six of them, when Austria went under health and safety protocols.