Fussing over four-point shot

After the PBA Board of Governors recently announced that it had approved the introduction of the four-point shot from a 27-foot arc in the coming season, comments rained in, both pro and con, to flood every conceivable social media portal. The fuss is generating the excitement and anticipation that the PBA precisely had in mind.

In the last two PBA All-Star Games, the four-point shot was featured. Paul Lee used it to his advantage in draining seven-of-13 four-pointers for 28 of his 32 points in the first experiment. Then, Robert Bolick hit a four-pointer and drew a foul to convert a five-point play with 17 seconds left in the second experiment this year. Bolick’s five-point play knotted the count, 140-all and no OT was called since it was an All-Star exhibition.

The four-point shot traces its origins to the Big Three League founded by American rapper and actor Ice Cube in 2017. The Big Three’s four-point shot is taken from any of three circles on the halfcourt, all 30 feet from the basket. One circle is in the middle of the court while the other two are 40 degrees away from the midline. The Big Three plays a modified 3x3 game with a 14-second shot clock.

When the American Basketball Association (ABA) introduced the three-point shot in 1967-68, some fans ridiculed it as a circus tactic to attract media attention. Not a few NBA purists called it a joke. In 1979, the NBA adopted the three-point shot and in 1984, FIBA followed suit. The triple made its Olympic debut in 1988. Now, the three-point shot is an integral part of the game. The four-point or logo shot could evolve into a similar role.

It was PBA general counsel and corporate secretary Atty. Ogie Narvasa who recommended the use of the four-point shot during the league’s annual planning meeting held in Osaka last weekend. The Board discussed and debated on it extensively before giving its thumbs-up. Other new rules are calling a ball live even if it goes over the backboard provided it doesn’t hit any equipment apparatus (like the shot clock) and it’s picked up inside the court, giving a player 15 seconds to rise or be subbed after falling on the floor and cracking down on coaches crossing the hash line to argue a call or non-call during a game in progress.

“Our goal is to make the game more exciting and more Instagrammable,” said PBA chairman Ricky Vargas. “We want to take out excessive delays that prolong a game. We will also focus on fan development and engagement, improving overall in-venue experience.”

PBA vice chairman Alfrancis Chua said the four-point shot could impact the way the game is played. “If a team has a deadly four-point shooter and the defense is a zone, luluwag ang space for slashers,” he noted. “Baka teams will play more man-to-man. It will be interesting to find out how teams adjust.”