A COUPLE of PBA coaches are willing to give the four-point shot a chance in the league’s plans to become innovative for the 49th season.
News of the PBA introducing a four-point shot following the league’s planning session in Osaka, Japan drew numerous reactions from fans, with the development even drawing attention from media outlets overseas.
Newly-elected PBA vice chairman Alfrancis Chua said the rule change will speed up the game, and will make playing zone defense challenging for teams.
Meralco coach Luigi Trillo and Phoenix mentor Jamike Jarin understand the move by the PBA honchos to implement the four-point shot, a way for the league to make the games more interesting.
“I think that the PBA board is really trying to find ways to make the games more exciting and innovative. It takes guts to be the first to do that in the world and I truly believe that our PBA board has the best interest of the league in their hearts,” said Trillo.
“The four-point shot is very interesting,” said Jarin. “You have to commend the PBA for thinking ng mga ganitong gimmick in order to make the game interesting.”
PBA teams have already started incorporating the four-point shot in preparation for its implementation for the coming 49th Season.
A look at social media posts show Converge and NLEX among the teams that have already placed a four-point broken line in their practice courts at the Gatorade Hoops Center and Epsilon Chi Center respectively.
Blackwater player RK Ilagan was already spotted in a video by Simple Grind working on his four-point shots in preparation for the coming season.
“As a coach, I just have to follow the policies made by our executives,” said Converge coach Aldin Ayo. “We just have to adjust to the rules they want to implement.”
Exciting, high-scoring games
San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent said the four-point shot is definitely going to bring a new excitement to the PBA games especially in the final moments where leads won’t always be safe with the four-point shot.
Gallent is fully aware of what the four-pointer can bring. He was the coach of Team Mark Barroca when Robert Bolick drained a five-point play in the final seconds of the PBA All-Star Bacolod that eventually ended to a 140-140 tie.
The Beermen coach also sees a high scoring game now that teams will have an option to take a four-point shot.
“It’s going to make the game more exciting,” said Gallent. “When you are down by four, last seconds of the game, you will have a chance to make a play and tie the ball game.”
“Remember, that happened to me sa All-Star Game, down by five, last seconds, Bolick hit a four-point shot tapos na-foul, we were able to tie it,” he continued.
“High scoring pa ‘yan for sure so good for shooters and if you get an import that shoots threes."
But while there is an added dimension to the PBA game in the coming season, Trillo and Jarin believe the four-point shot will not completely alter the way PBA games are coached.
“As a coach, personally, I would look at analytics and game situations, time clock situations to create advantages for our team. I don’t think teams will be coming down looking for it every time on transition. But now, even four-point leads in the endgame aren’t safe,” said Trillo.
Jarin also shares the same sentiment as Trillo that the four-point shot would only be used in special cases. The Phoenix coach expects the four-pointer to be an option only during specific situations only.
Eventually, four-point attempts could become bad shots if taken regularly.
“Ang layo eh. I don’t mind our players taking the shot like that as long as the shotclock is winding down,” said Jarin. “If you are going to take that shot, you have to practice it. You have to police kung sino ang puwedeng tumira ng ganun.”
Four-point shot’s effect remains to be seen
Trillo and Jarin said it remains to be seen whether this innovation would work, and the coming Governors’ Cup will be a test for that. Ultimately, though, the two coaches want to see the four-point shot become helpful to the Philippines in the international game.
“Ako, I just want to see what’s going to happen,” Jarin said. “For me, personally, last year, me, coach Yeng, coach Aldin, we were against sa players calling timeouts (with) the ultimate goal was because we would like the style of the rules na ‘yung pang-FIBA, pang-international, because the goal is to qualify for the World Cup and make it to the Olympics. With this, it’s going to be interesting.”
“I’d like to see it muna before making comments. But in 1984, they (FIBA) introduced the three-point shot. At that time, same reaction. Let’s see kung anong mangyayari,” Jarin continued.
Trillo said: “Looking at this, it may help even our national team because if we really improve our range that can work to our advantage.”
“It may work or it may not work but we have to try and see. Time will only tell,” said Trillo.
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