Here’s what players and coaches say about the new four-point line the PBA introduced for Season 49.
It’s been almost a week since the PBA officially introduced the four-point line.
Meralco guard Chris Banchero made the historic first shot from that range in Meralco’s win over Magnolia in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup opener.
“It’s always good to be in the record books. Happy I got to make it,” said Banchero.
[RELATED STORY: 'Always good to be in record books': Chris Banchero relishes historic first-ever PBA 4-pointer in Meralco win]
Days later, Converge import Scotty Hopson went a perfect 3-for-3 from that line in a dominant 127-95 win over Terrafirma.
CJ Perez scored on a stepback four-pointer to allow San Miguel to pull away from a hard-fighting Phoenix Fuel Masters.
[ALSO READ: PBA: Import Scotty Hopson delivers game worthy of an 'A' in first test for Converge]
Some still have reservations, while others are downright dismissive of the four-point line.
Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao is somewhat in between.
When asked about the four-point line in Saturday’s episode of One PH's Power and Play, Guiao suggested the league could have studied this further before implementing.
“May position naman ako dyan. Sabi ko bago sana in-apply 'tong four point shot eh napag-aralan natin nang mabuti. Pwede naman i-experiment on a smaller scale. Tapos pag nakita mong magandang effect i-apply mo sa PBA,” Guiao said.
“'Pag di mo nakita na maganda, 'wag mo i-apply. Kaya lang parang binigla natin”
Don’t get him wrong. The former Pampanga representative is open to innovations such as this.
“Open-minded naman ako. Kaya lang you have to mitigate the risks,” he said.
The four-point line was tried out during the 2023 PBA All-Star Game in Passi, Iloilo. Robert Bolick took advantage of it for a five-point play, tying the game at the buzzer.
Former NBA player and Magnolia import Glenn Robinson III admitted he was not a huge fan of it.
This, despite taking a potential game-winning four-pointer in the opening loss to Meralco on Sunday, August 18.
“I’m not a huge fan. I don’t think anybody really pays that much attention to it. But it’s a cool addition. We’ll play with it this year, see how it goes,” he said.
“I heard that it was in the All-Star games here before. Something new, something exciting. You never know will catch on and what won’t. But I’m not huge on it.”
[ALSO READ: Despite taking four-point game winner, Magnolia's Glenn Robinson III not a fan of PBA's 4-point shot]
Meanwhile, TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was not exactly against it.
The former Best Import said this adds a new dimension to the game of basketball never before seen, since the NBA implemented the three-point field goal in the 1979 season.
“I think it’s interesting. It adds different dynamic to the game. It adds just a challenge,” he said.
“It challenges your teammates, it challenges the game. It gives the fans something to look forward to, to celebrate.”
[ALSO READ: PBA: TNT's Calvin Oftana savors opportunity after perfect outing from four-point arc vs. NorthPort]
Magnolia's Jerrick Ahanmisi certainly took advantage of it, drawing back-to-back four pointers against the Converge FiberXers.
But it’s still too early to pass verdict on this new feature which hopes to draw interest from fans and probably blaze the trail for the world to follow in.