Austria urges Sariaya youth to keep dreaming
Leo Austria, multi-titled coach of the San Miguel Beermen, said the youth in his hometown of Sariaya in Quezon Province should not give up on their dreams despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Austria, the PBA rookie of the year in 1985, said that living in the province did not deter him from moving forward as a player and coach in the Philippine Amateur Basketball League (PABL) and the PBA.
“Ang sabi ko nga sa mga bata, ako nga na tagarito sa Sariaya ay nagsikap at umabot sa PBA. Kaya’t kaya rin nila basta magsikap lang sila.”
Austria, along with PBA legend Alvin Patrimonio, joined Sariaya local officials led by Mayor Marcelo Gayeta and Quezon clergy led by Lucena Bishop Mel Rey Uy during the recent inauguration of new facilities of the 5.4-hectare San Miguel-Christian Gayeta Homes, which include a covered and concrete basketball court, livelihood center, e-library and children’s learning center.
“Maraming kabataan dito. Kapag nawala na siguro ang pandemya at meron nang vaccine ay puwede na tayong magkaroon ng mga clinics dito para sa sports development nila at ma-boost ulit yung basketball sa Sariaya,” said Austria.
Playing basketball as a teenager in Sariaya evokes happy memories for Austria. “Nag-umpisa ako ng volleyball sa St. Francis High School but madalas na ko sa intrams (intramurals) noon bago ako napunta sa basketball nung junior at senior year,” he said.
“May basketball court sa tapat ng simbahan na tawag ay parke kung saan madalas kami maglaro halos maghapon. Ang tawag nga sa akin ay batang parke. Kung saansaan nga kami nakakarating sa Quezon para maglaro ng mga kaibigan ko,” he recalled.