Leo Austria is confident Bennie Boatwright can turn San Miguel’s PBA season around 

The San Miguel Beermen, long regarded as one of the premier franchises in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), are navigating unfamiliar territory in the ongoing Commissioner’s Cup. Known for their consistency and championship pedigree, the Beermen have so far struggled to meet expectations, currently sitting eighth in the standings with a balanced 4-4 record—far from the dominant form fans have come to expect.

A significant factor behind San Miguel’s uneven campaign has been instability at the import position. Their initial reinforcement, Justin Patton, became a source of controversy after failing to show up for a crucial matchup against the Magnolia Hotshots, raising questions about commitment and team chemistry. The organization acted swiftly, parting ways with Patton and bringing back a familiar and proven contributor in Bennie Boatwright.

Boatwright wasted no time making his presence felt. In his first game back with the Beermen on Sunday, April 19, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, the former fan favorite delivered a dominant performance, erupting for 41 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. His all-around effort powered San Miguel to a hard-fought 98-94 victory, providing a much-needed boost to the team’s campaign and morale.

OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.

Head coach Leo Austria expressed optimism that Boatwright’s return could stabilize the team and address their import woes, drawing parallels to a successful stretch in the past.

“Hopefully. The last time what we did during Bennie’s arrival in 2024 in the middle of the elimination eh. Since then we have never lost twice in a row. And eventually, we won the championship. We are hoping na we can duplicate this kind of situation that we have now to the year 2024,” Austria said in a media interaction.

Bennie Boatwright’s 41-point explosion, capped by a clutch finish, powered San Miguel’s comeback win over NLEX in the #PBA50 Commissioner’s Cup#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/NbkPYT9mgW

📸 PBA Images pic.twitter.com/V4LcK4fdKO

— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) April 19, 2026

Austria’s confidence is shared by star guard CJ Perez, who emphasized how Boatwright’s skill set complements San Miguel’s core of talented local players. For Perez, finding the right import has long been a challenge, but Boatwright’s immediate impact suggests they may have finally found the missing piece.

“I think yun yung nawawalang piece sa puzzle doon sa team namin eh. Every import conference nahihirapan kami maghanap ng import na nag-fifit sa San Miguel. I think Bennie is the answer doon sa struggle namin,” Perez added.

Boatwright himself remains focused on the present, preferring a steady, game-by-game approach rather than looking too far ahead. While his performance has already reignited hopes among fans and teammates alike, the import is keeping his mindset grounded.

“Yeah that’s the goal of course. But me personally, I want to take it one day at a time. You know just stacking the wins. To get this first win it feels very good as a team, myself and you know I’m excited moving forward,” Boatwright said.

With renewed energy and a reinforced lineup, the Beermen now aim to build momentum as the elimination round progresses. Consistency will be key if they hope to climb the standings and reestablish themselves as legitimate title contenders.

San Miguel will look to continue their resurgence when they take on the Blackwater Bossing on Wednesday, April 22, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium—a matchup that could serve as an early test of whether Boatwright’s return truly marks a turning point in their season.

👉 Don’t miss out on the latest sports news, updates, and fan discussions!

📌 Follow our Facebook page Sports News PH today and join the community of passionate sports fans.