By REYNALD MAGALLON
The four-point shot is no longer just an attraction during an all-star game or exhibitions.
It is now set to be a staple in PBA games as the Board of Governors has given the green light for its implementation for the upcoming Season 49 during the league annual planning at the Swissotel Nankai in Osaka.
According to re-elected PBA chairman Ricky Vargas, the new rule was just one of major innovations the league is set to adopt in an effort to make the games more enticing to fans.
“There’s several rule changes that we’re anticipating and one of them is the four-point play,” said Vargas.
An arc will be created 27-feet away from the basket and any shot made beyond the line would credit four points. The three-point line, 23-feet away from the basket should remain.
While the four-point line was not entirely strange for the PBA, having also done it in the last two all-star games, the league is set to be the first professional basketball league in the world to implement the four-point line in an official game.
During the all-star games, players like Paul Lee, CJ Perez and Robert Bolick displayed ease in drilling from way beyond with the latter even completing a rare five-point play after getting fouled by Calvin Oftana.
The shot forced a 140-all draw between Team Japeth and Team Mark.
Newly-elected vice chairman Alfrancis Chua said the game is set to evolve with the introduction of the four-point shot.
“Ang feeling ko diyan bibilis ang laro and mahihirapan kang maglaro ng zone. Kasi if they can shoot that far, you have to extend the zone. So basically, mag ma-man-to-man lahat (ng teams),” said Chua.
