CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur – The PBA spices things up in the upcoming Rookies and Sophomores versus Juniors game on Friday by introducing a ‘Blitz 3’ that rewards a team that makes a basket in the least amount of time during a possession.
Under the rules for the exhibition game on Friday to be played at the Candon City Arena, a team gets three points if it scores within seven seconds after a made or missed basket.
“Sa innovation ni Atty. Ogie (Narvasa, PBA legal counsel), gagawin namin ‘yung ‘Blitz 3.’ Gagawin namin sa Friday,” said PBA commissioner Willie Marcial during Thursday’s press conference at the Van Gogh Hotel.
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Introducing such rules is no stranger to the league as it was in the All-Star Game where the four-point shot was launched until it became in effect in official games at the start of the 49th Season.
“Gagawin namin sa RSJ na may quick three na from an attempt at naka-score agad within six seconds, quick three para mapabilis. Susubukan namin ‘yun. Kasi ‘yung innovation ng four-point play, sinuggest din ni Atty. Ogie ‘yun. Inadapt natin. Tignan natin kung masisiyahan ‘yung mga tao,” said Marcial.
PBA technical committee head Joey Guanio clarified that only three points will be given to a team if it made a three or four-point shot during the seven-second time frame.
Blitz 3 not exactly new
The rule is similar to the ones being implemented by other leagues.
The defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) introduced it first with its own ‘Blitz 3’ where a team is given three points if it scores within the first four seconds of a possession.
Currently, the National Basketball League-Pilipinas has its ‘Blaze 3,’ their teams of which must score within five seconds.
Meanwhile, the three-point dunk will still be in effect for the All-Star Weekend.
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