Like it or not, the four-point shot is coming to the PBA this season. How will the league’s best shooters adapt to it?
One of the most anticipated innovations in a long while – the four-point shot – will be making its PBA debut in Season 49, which will kick off on Aug. 18.
A new arc measuring 27 feet from the basket will be added to all PBA venues. Understandably, there has been considerable chatter surrounding the new rule. On the one hand, many basketball purists scoff at the idea. On the other hand, some fans are willing to give it a chance.
Regardless, it will be making its debut this season, and like it or not the players will have to deal with it. We asked several of the league’s long-range bombers what they thought of this new weapon since they will be at the forefront of its use (or misuse).
While their opinions varied somewhat, the majority believed the new rule will improve spacing and possibly even benefit big men since they will have much more space to operate in the paint and it won’t be that easy anymore to send over a double team.
‘Excited to try it’
Some PBA shooters can’t wait to get their hands on this new toy. TNT Tropang Giga’s RR Pogoy, who isn’t shy to hoist it from way out, is one of them.
“Honestly, dati tumitira talaga ako ng malayo,” he said during the league’s Media Day at the Le Marc Events Center. “Pero ngayon, pinapractice ko talaga. Pinapractice ko.
“Sobrang excited akong na matry, makatira ng four-point shot kasi first time, tayo yung nauna. So, excited ako.”
Pogoy believes the four-point shot will fit nicely into TNT’s offensive schemes, and they have in fact been using the line in practices and tune-up games.
“Kasi gusto namin spacing. Kaya bagay sa amin yung four-point shot kasi gusto namin spacing,” adds Pogoy, who said he was able to knock down one four-pointer during a recent tune-up game.
But unlike the three-point shot, which is already firmly engrained in the sport, Pogoy believes teams won’t necessarily be looking for it on a regular basis.
“Depende na talaga sa takbo ng laro,” he said. “Pero, minsan doon ako pupuwesto kasi mas malaking space kung andun kayo. Kasi ngayon babantayan ka na eh, kasi four points na eh. So, advantage din sa amin yun, di ba? Luluwag yung ilalim.”
Pogoy’s teammate, Calvin Oftana, is another outside shooter looking forward to launching a “quadruple” when the season starts. But he also won’t be looking for it.
“Excited ako. Pero di ko naman talaga siya hinahanap. Pag kailangan. Depende lang. Hindi naman kailangang hanapin yun. Kasi mahirap para sa akin.
“Siguro kung NBA player ka, mostly yun yung range nila. Pero dito sa atin kasi, FIBA rules tayo. Pag tinira mo mga ganun kalayo, siguro Stephen Curry ka na.Pero sa akin, bad shot kasi yun. Pag hinahanap mo yun, sobrang layo. Pag may time lang, pag kailangan, siguro tinitira.”
For the Terrafirma Dyip’s Juami Tiongson, who has also been known to drop a long bucket or two, the four-point shot would be a welcome addition to the PBA.
“Since they announced it, I feel like it will add excitement to the game,” he said. “Honestly right now it hasn’t really been a priority of ours but if it’s there we take the shot. everyone’s welcome to take the shot especially with coach John’s system. If you’re open, just take it.
“I feel like people think guards will have the advantage but honestly the advantage will be for big men. They have more space to operate especially if they have guys that hit four-point shots consistently.”
A ‘4’ is also…a ‘3’?
One development that will be closely watched in Season 49 is San Miguel Beermen hotshot Marcio Lassiter’s pursuit of Jimmy Alapag as the league’s all-time leader in three-point shots made.
Lassiter is only 15 made triples away from achieving the feat, and while he definitely has the range to sink shots from four-point distance, he said he’d rather focus on the three-point record first before thinking about anything else.
“Yeah, the four-point shot is gonna be something different for all of us, especially myself,” he said. “I don’t usually take those, but I do make a few of those. For me, I kind of want to stick to the three point first, and try to get that taken care of. It’s not gonna be easy, but I’m gonna focus on that first, and then I’ll venture out into that land of the four points. Yeah, it should be interesting. It’ll space out the floor more give a lot of guys more space to drive and create and also display some good shooting.
But wait. If a player makes a four-point shot, will it also count as a three-point shot? Lassiter himself isn’t sure.
“I’m thinking it’s not,” he said. “That’s just from my guess. A four-pointer should be a four-pointer. I’m not sure if it would be a three. But if it is, I don’t know. I’ll just keep it standard. I’ll make sure everyone knows that when I shoot a three, it’ll be a three.
“And then we’ll see what happens when it’s a four-pointer. But that’s a really good question. I have no clue. Some clarity would be great.”
Enter PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, who thinks a four should indeed be counted as a three, although it will be up to the technical committee to decide.
“Sa akin, opinion ko, ay counted yun as a three. Kasi, knock on wood, baka naman mawala. Sayang naman yung tres niya, di ba?
“So, as of now, tingnan natin next year, kung pagpapatuloy natin yung four-point shot, o itu-tweak natin, o tatanggalin natin. Pero sa akin, mag-uusap kami ng technical committee,
“Suggestion ko, opinion ko, kung tumira sa kwatro, tres pa rin siya.”
Not looking for it
For the man who memorably completed a five-point play in this year’s PBA All-Star Game, the four-point shot isn’t exactly getting his juices flowing.
“To be honest, hindi eh,” NLEX Road Warriors star guard Robert Bolick said when asked if he was looking forward to adding the shot to his arsenal. “Kasi nga, pag iniisip mo masyado parang doon ka na lang tumitira eh.”
Bolick does see, however, how the shot will change the way the game is played here.
“So, nakatatlong four points lang, 12-0 na kaagad eh. So, hindi ko alam kung paano namin i-adapt. Pero para sa akin, hindi ko siya hahanapin talaga. Pag nandyan, nandyan. Pero hindi ko pipilitin yung tira ko na lang dito. Kasi kung may opportunity, sige.
“Lamang ka ng apat. So, may chance ka ng makatabla ba. Maninibago talaga.Kasi pag naka-shoot ka lang ng dalawa, eight points ka na kaagad eh. So, malaking opportunity sa mga players. Tapos mag-extend din yung range ng mga players.
“Lahat ng players malayo na rin tumitira. Tingnan natin kung anong magiging outcome. For sure, kung maganda, itutuloy.”
If there’s any PBA player for whom the four-point shot was tailor-made, it’s clearly the Magnolia Hotshots’ Paul Lee.
The Lee-thal Weapon casually sank seven four-pointers in this year’s All-Star Game, and shooting from that distance is as normal for Lee as a lay-up is for other players.
“I mean, for me, parang normal. Pero ngayon, masaya dahil ma–awardan na eh. Usually naman, doon din talaga ako tumitira sa spot na yun. So, maganda lang is ma-awardan siya ng four points.
“Ngayon, lalapitan ka na sa spot na yun, for sure. And puede namin magamit sa spacing namin pagdating sa offense. So, malaking bagay para sa amin.”
Lee has a word of advice, though, for fellow players who are thinking of adding the four-point shot to their arsenal.
“Kailangan talaga practice-in siya. I mean, every day, kasama siya sa routine ko. Ever since, nasa Rain or Shine pa ako, ganun na yun.”
Banner Images from PBA Media Bureau.
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