Austria chases time to jell

San Miguel Beer head coach Leo Austria said there was little time to prepare for the EASL game against Eastern but despite schedule constraints, the Beermen recovered from a 20-point deficit to trim the gap to two in the fourth quarter only to run out of steam down the stretch, dropping a 71-62 decision at the Southorn Stadium here Wednesday night.

- JOAQUIN HENSON

Austria was handed the San Miguel reins the day before he made his PBA return at the helm Friday last week. He led the team to victory then two days later, the Beermen notched another win. San Miguel had only one practice with imports Quincy Miller and Torren Jones together to prepare for Eastern.