Obviously, not all four-pointers are created equal, but these players have etched their names into the PBA history books.
If the math wizards told us that three is greater than two, the PBA now has the right to say four is greater than three.
While the jury is still out for the four-point shot, it remains to be seen how the league’s latest innovation will pan out for the rest of the season.
Nearly two weeks into the Governors’ Cup, let’s look back into the highs of some notable four-point shots and the players behind it.
Scotty Hopson (Converge FiberXers) — First player to hit a 4-point game-winner
Trailing by three points at 95-92 with 9.6 seconds left in regulation, Converge was facing a tough situation against defending champion TNT.
Should the FiberXers ttempt a game-tying triple to force overtime or take the bold risk of utilizing the four-point line to win the game?
Reinforcement Scotty Hopson chose the latter and, boy, it did wonders for Converge.
Hopson received the inbound pass from Alex Cabagnot, dribbled three times towards the right side of the court before hoisting a leaning four-pointer over the Tropang Giga’s Glenn Khobuntin.
The whole crowd went wild and frenzy with what just happened.
Hopson ended up with 32 points, two out of three four-point shots included.
“It’s good that we have someone who can shoot that long range shot and it’s available for us,” FiberXers interim head coach Franco Atienza said on his import’s clutch heroics.
[RELATED STORY: PBA: After Scotty Hopson game-winner vs. TNT, Converge's Franco Atienza sees clutch play as sign to take 4-point line seriously]
Chris Banchero (Meralco Bolts) — First-ever player to make a 4-point shot
Heading to the season-opening bout between reigning Philippine Cup champions Meralco and Magnolia, all eyes are wondering who among the respective team’s best shooters will attempt or even make the maiden four-pointer.
Is it the Bolts’ Allein Maliksi, a career 37 percent three-point marksman who can shoot whenever he wants?
Or will it be Paul Lee, the reigning PBA All-Star three-point champion who is capable of dropping long-range bombs even before the existence of the four-point arc?
Neither of the two held the record; it was Chris Banchero who etched his name into the PBA history books.
Banchero drained the league’s first-ever four-point shot in the second quarter that gave the Bolts the lead, 20-17.
[RELATED STORY: FOR FOUR! Chris Banchero makes first official 4-point shot in PBA history]
The 35-year-old guard hoisted the shot from the right wing after receiving a pass from Allen Durham.
“It’s always good to be in the record books. Happy I got to make it,” said Banchero afterwards.
[RELATED STORY: 'Always good to be in record books': Chris Banchero relishes historic first-ever PBA 4-pointer in Meralco win]
Calvin Oftana (TNT Tropang Giga) — First player to hit multiple 4-pointers in a single game
As good a shooter as he is, Calvin Oftana seemed to find his stroke better from the four-point line compared to the three-point arc for TNT on one random night in August.
In the Tropang Giga’s 101-95 victory against NorthPort in the season's second play date, Oftana calmly sank his two attempts from the four-point area.
With that, the two-time PBA All-Star became the first player to tally more than one four-pointer in a single game despite firing just 1-for-7 from three.
So much so that the 2023 champion wingman jokingly said this about his shooting woes that game: “Yun nga, mas nakaka-shoot [ako] sa four points kaysa three."
[RELATED STORY: PBA: TNT's Calvin Oftana savors opportunity after perfect outing from four-point arc vs. NorthPort]
Fran Yu (NorthPort Batang Pier) — Longest 4-pointer made (so far)
This one came from way, way downtown.
Spitfire guard Fran Yu currently holds the record for longest four-pointer made so far, launching a buzzer-beating heave way beyond the half-court in the third quarter of NorthPort’s 112-93 thrashing of Terrafirma last Aug. 23.
What makes it more impressive is that Yu did not call bank and instead launched the shot as time expired.
Without hesitation, we can safely say that Y(o)u are definitely the man, Fran.