Lassiter will focus on breaking three-point record prior to attempting four-point shots

Lea Hogg August 9, 2024

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is set to introduce a new four-point line in the upcoming season, a move that has sparked a significant debate. This change is expected to have a big impact on the game, particularly for players like Marcio Lassiter, who is on the verge of breaking Jimmy Alapag’s record of 1,250 career three-pointers.

Lassiter, a veteran player for San Miguel Beer, is currently third on the all-time list, behind Alapag and Allan Caidic, who has 1,242 triples to his name. The introduction of the four-point line, which measures 27 feet, has raised questions about how records will be interpreted if the league decides to remove it after the experimental period.

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial has clarified that, in his opinion, a four-point shot would count as a three. This statement was made during a PBA Media Day interview with Lassiter. The question of how a four-pointer would count if Lassiter, who has 1,236 career triples, makes one, was first raised by Alex Cabagnot, Lassiter’s former teammate.

Marcio Lassiter shares his thoughts on the PBA's latest innovation: the four-point shot 🏀#PBA2024

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— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) August 5, 2024

Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) on X Marcio Lassiter sharing his thoughts on the four-point shot

Despite the uncertainty, Lassiter has decided to focus on breaking Alapag’s record using the traditional three-point line. He stated, “For me, I’m gonna stick to the three-point line first and try to get that taken care of. It’s not gonna be easy, but I will focus on that first and I’ll venture out to that four-point land [later].”

How will the four-point shot be different?

The introduction of the four-point line also raises questions about how statistics will be tabulated by the league. Genius Sports, a global stats company partnering with FIBA for its FIBA Live Stats, cannot add the four-point category to its statistics, prompting the PBA to search for a local provider.

As the PBA sets off with this experimental period, players, teams, and fans alike are curious to see how the new dynamics will affect gameplay. Lassiter, like many others, is intrigued by the prospect of attempting a four-point shot, stating, “The four-point shot is gonna be something different for all of us, especially myself. I don’t usually take those, but I do make a few of those.” The upcoming season promises to be an exciting time for Philippine basketball as it introduces these new changes.

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