IN July 2024, the PBA board formally approved the introduction of the four-point shot in Asia's first professional league. A line that extended just four feet beyond the three-point arc spurred endless debates on a decision that, as Yeng Guiao said, 'would either make us look like genuises or fools.'
One season later, is Guiao's and the other PBA coaches' opinion still the same?
The verdict from coaches polled by SPIN.ph was mixed. Guiao is still waiting to be convinced. NLEX's Jong Uichico finds it useful in certain situations. Chot Reyes remains all for it despite TNT ending up with the worst percentage from that distance among the 12 teams.
READ Why Robert Horry is not a fan of the PBA's four-point shot
Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone has not responded to the questions, although he made it clear that he isn't a fan of the four-point shot even after one hot stretch from that distance by resident import Justin Brownlee in October 2024.
“Just because it favors our team having Justin around and making those fours doesn’t mean I’m a fan of the four-point line," Cone said. "I just believe that the game has evolved into shooting, taking quick shots, taking four points.”
Numbers game
Statistics from last season showed that despite the general apprehension, PBA teams took no less than 2,052 shots from beyond the 27-foot line - or an average of four attempts by a team per game, making .97 each time.
The overall 24-percent shooting percentage looked unimpressive, but all other shooting percentages - from three-point field goals to free-throw shooting - as well as scoring went up in the first season that the four-point shot was adopted.
According to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon, PBA teams nearly averaged in triple figures in scoring for the first time in 32 years. The 99.9 PPG was up 1.3 points from last year and was the highest since the 1994 season.
On the other hand, the three-point shooting percentage of the teams improved by .7 percent to 33.2 percent - the highest since the 1995 season - while two-point shooting was likewise up 1.2 percent to 52 percent, the best in 32 years.
Some believe the rules change had a hand in this, arguing that the four-point shot forced defenses to extend, led to more open scoring opportunities, and - on the part of the scorers - made the three-point shot suddenly look easy, at least psychologically.
Guiao, however, is unconvinced.
"The improvement in shooting percentages is probably because officiating is biased towards the offense," said the veteran coach of Rain or Shine.
As a member of the PBA's competition committee, Guiao said he asked for a thorough study of the four-point shot at season's end. The coach added he was told that a study conducted by a masteral student showed the four-point shot's 'positive impact' on the popularity of the league.
"[Deputy commissioner Eric Castro] told me the study concluded that the four-point shot had positive effect on the league," Guiao told SPIN.ph. "I asked for a copy of the study but so far nothing has been given to me."
Reyes is unperturbed that TNT has the worst percentage among all 12 PBA teams from the four-point distance, making just 32 of 179 attempts for a paltry 17.9 percentage. He said the numbers that mattered are the wins and losses.
"We have the worst four-point percentage but best W-L record," said Reyes, whose team went a league-best 50-25 last season and came two wins short of the first PBA grand slam since 2013. "That must tell you something."
Asked to expound, the multi-titled coach said the impact of the four-point shot on a successful TNT season went beyond what was seen in the stats sheet.
As for Uichico, the four-point shot remains no more than an option. even if his former import DeQan Jones ranked No. 2 behind Magnolia's Peter Alfaro among players with the highest four-point percentage with a 52% clip (13-of-25) while star guard Robert Bolick was at No. 8 in four-point shooting with 22 made out of 99 attempts.
"Same lang," said Uichico when asked about his thoughts on the four-point shot. "Use the four-point shot if you want to."
READ Lemetti 'heartbroken' as career game ruined by Fajardo winner
Guiao and Rain or Shine figured in one of the games nearly decided by a four-point shot when rookie guard Felix Lemetti, fouled by Chris Ross while attempting from afar, made all four free throws to put the Elasto Painters in the lead, only for the team to be denied by a June Mar Fajardo game-winner, 113-112.
Guiao, along with Cone the most vocal critics of the rule change, said he is keeping an open mind and waiting to be convinced that the four-point shot is good for the PBA.
He's still waiting.
"Open-minded naman ako, but we have to have empirical proof that it has a positive effect on the league," said Guiao. "So far none has been shown."
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