Coach Leo Austria said he didn’t need much words to make Mo Tautuaa bounce back from the frustrating end to the opener of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

“Kapag marami kang sinabi, ‘yung analysis nagiging paralysis,” said Austria, shortly after a 98-92 Game 2 win over Grand Slam-seeking TNT that had the Beermen leveling the best-of-seven series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday night.

It was of course a statement which drew plenty of laughter inside the press room, but what Tautuaa came up with on the floor just minutes before certainly was no laughing matter.

There was no tight endgame like the one that took place in Game 1, where the Beermen ended up in the raw end of a controversy stemming from Tautuua’s dunk that was turned into a basket interference three nights ago that TNT took advantage of.

Tautuaa responded with 16 points and four rebounds, and he was among the many San Miguel players who contributed big in the win where the Beermen took their turn in losing a big, early lead.

Chris Ross flashed his vintage form, Don Trollano knocked down shots that put to waste TNT’s rally and Jeron Teng was also key for the Beermen in splitting the first two games.

Trollano dropped 22 points, Ross had seven points, seven rebounds and four steals in a starting role at the point, while Teng was a spark plug in the second quarter when SMB led, 51-39, at the break.

TNT couldn’t capitalize on its comeback after tying the count at 77-all on Jordan Heading’s three, with easy misses contributing to its eventual doom.

Calvin Oftana scored 23 points while Heading had 15 after cooling off in the first half for the Tropang 5G.

Game 3 is set on Friday at the Big Dome where the two teams will break their deadlock.

Tautuaa came into Game 2 in his usual self, not with a purpose that would have been understandable after PBA officials declared that his supposed go-ahead dunk in Game 1 was ruled as an interference.

It triggered anger, not just from the San Miguel camp, but from almost everyone who saw the play on social media, with PBA deputy commissioner Eric Castro taking the brunt of criticisms.

Some came to Castro’s defense, like former commissioner Noli Eala, who took to X saying that it was a “gutsy” but correct call.

San Miguel eventually opted against filing a protest, describing it as an “exercise in futility.”

The PBA maintained its stance on the rule, admitting later on that the three referees missed the call on the spot.

“I want to tell the public that we in the technical committee are doing our jobs to ensure the integrity of the game,” Castro said when he and technical committee member Bong Pascual guested in the program “Starting Lineup” on Monday.

Instead of sulking, Tautuaa responded well.

“Coach told me to step up and I stepped up ,” Tautuaa said.