Gunners thrilled by 4-pt shot

MANILA, Philippines — The PBA’s known long-distance shooters relish weaponizing the new four-point line from 27 feet.

“It makes the game more exciting,” said Magnolia sniper Paul Lee, who was third in the record books to score from the extended line after Meralco’s Chris Banchero and Jolo Mendoza.

Lee noted how the four-point shot gave the Hotshots a crack at the go-ahead with the Bolts up by three, 97-94, going to the last 10. 3 seconds of the season opener Sunday at the Big Dome. But import Glenn Robinson III missed his contested long bomb then Meralco sealed the deal on Allen Durham’s dagger free throws, 99-94.

“We’re down by three but we got a chance to tie (with a triple) or lumamang pa ng isa (with a four-pointer). I think ‘yun ang mas nakaka-excite. Hanggang dulo, mahirap masabi kahit lamang ka pa ng sampu, na panalo ka na,” he said.

“Dahil sa four points, baka bad decision lang kayo, makatakbo ‘yung kabila, then maka-shoot ng dalawa, dikit na agad. So I think nakakatuwa and nakaka-excite.”

While a helpful tool, Lee didn’t see the four-point shot as the new bread and butter of teams.

“We’re not looking to it. If you’re open, just take it and alam naman sa team namin kung sino lang ‘yung mga tumitira talaga doon. So we’re not going to force na, oh sige, tira ka ng ganun,” he said.

It’s the same for Banchero.

“You don’t want to force it just because it’s a four-point line. You kind of want to catch a rhythm,” he said.

Banchero earned the honors as the first in the club when he knocked down one at 10:25 of the second period.

“It’s always good to be in the record books. (Strength and conditioning) Coach Diego (Lozano) said a couple of weeks ago that I’d be the first one to make it and we did. I’m just happy that we got the win,” said the Fil-Italian guard.

“It’s fun playing with it. We’ll see how it goes this conference. We’ll see if they want to keep it,” he added.

Meanwhile, Season 49 play resumes with a Tuesday bill at the Big Dome pitting Blackwater versus Rain or Shine at 5 p.m. then NorthPort opposite TNT at 7:30 p.m.