By SPIN.ph staff
NOW that the four-point shot will be part of the PBA game, we asked current PBA players who stand to benefit from this new ruling.
New NorthPort acquisition Jio Jalalon told SPIN.ph that you can count with the fingers of his two hands the PBA players who can consistently make shots from four feet beyond the 23-foot three-point arc.
Among the current PBA snipers who Jalalon believe will have the license to shoot from 27 feet out is his former Magnolia Hotshots teammate Paul Lee.
LOOK: PBA teams put temporary 4-point line in practice facilities
The former Arellano Chiefs star also mentioned NLEX star guard Robert Bolick, San Miguel veteran Marcio Lassiter, Phoenix shooter RJ Jazul, TNT’s RR Pogoy and Calvin Oftana and his Northport teammate Arvin Tolentino.
“Actually, yan lang pong mga 'yan ang nakikita ko na hindi gaano mag-a-adjust tumira sa four-point line kasi kahit dati na three-point line pa lang malayo na sila bumitaw,” said one of the finest small defenders in the league.
“Tingin ko po sila agad 'yung mga mag-thrive sa four-pointers kasi sanay na sila, mag-adjust man sila kaunti na lang kasi dati na silang pumupukol dun,” he added.
Asked if the new ruling would heap additional burden on top defenders like him, Jalalon said they’d be forced to extend their defense most of the time, which could even slow down the tempo of the game.
“Malamang po pagka-inbound pa lang didikitan na agad namin 'yung four-point shooter n'yan kasi po kaunti na lang halos ang space from the half court line papunta sa four-point line. Hindi gaya dati may two steps pa bago maka-tres,” he said.
“Tingin ko po medyo babagal talaga ang laro nyan pero depende siguro sa tactics ng mga teams," he added. "Pero ako po siguro if matapat sa kin yung mga sinasabi ko na pwedeng mag four points, didikitan ko na agad 'yun.”
For Phoenix veteran guard and former FEU gunner RR Garcia, the new rule would force teams to abandon the zone defense, which is common in Fiba and other international tournaments.
“Mapipilitan mag man-to-man ang lahat n'yan kasi pag nag-zone ka tapos nabakante yung shooters, four points agad yun,” Garcia said, adding that he won't hesitate taking shots from the four-point line when free.
“Advantage dyan yung mga teams na may mga shooters talaga like San Miguel, Magnolia at Ginebra. TNT siguro pwede rin kasi andun sila RR (Pogoy). Pero siguro kami rin sasabay kasi may long range naman kami nila RJ at Jayjay (Alejandro)."
Super Marcio
Jalalon believes that teams like Magnolia and San Miguel will benefit from the four-point line while defensive teams like Meralco will have to adjust.
“Yung San Miguel po I think lamang sila dyan kasi may Marcio sila, mataas percentage nun. Tapos may Don Trollano sila at Mo’ Tautuaa pa,” said Jalalon.
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