Marcio Lassiter shoots for elusive PBA All-Star 3-point title

San Miguel Beer swingman Marcio Lassiter shoots a 3-pointer during a game against TNT in the PBA Philippine Cup.–PBA IMAGES

BACOLOD CITY — Marcio Lassiter is easily one of the Philippine Basketball Association’s finest shooters right now, but a PBA All-Star 3-Point Shootout crown remains elusive for the San Miguel marksman.

“I mean, you always want to get one as a shooter, right?” Lassiter told a couple of reporters on Friday after lunch, just before visiting Negros Occidental High School for the league’s customary outreach program during the midseason showcase.

“Last year was one of my closest ones. I just hope I could build off of that … and put on another good showing,” Lassiter said.

READ: PBA All-Star June Mar Fajardo tests mettle in 3-Point Shootout

Of the PBA’s top five three-point shooters, only Lassiter and LA Tenorio have yet to rule the contest. Jimmy Alapag, who leads that fancied list, has won the All-Star derby twice just like hometown bet James Yap. Allan Caidic, who is ranked second, won the first edition of the shootout 32 years ago.

“Maybe I just need a defender to guard me,” Lassiter said with a chuckle. “Maybe that’s the key—for someone to get close to me and guard me.”

“I’m definitely going to shoot for it like I always do every year. Hope I get off to a good start, good rhythm that will carry me through like it did last year,” he went on.

Lassiter came close during the All-Star revelries in Passi City, Iloilo, a year ago. He racked up 28 whopping points in the first round only to go for 21 and fall to Paul Lee’s 28 in the finalé.

READ: Paul Lee just taking it easy during PBA All-Star weekend

This year’s field will feature two divisions, with Lassiter and Lee making another appearance. Also joining the fray are Barangay Ginebra’s Maverick Ahanmisi, NorthPort’s Arvin Tolentino, and Blackwater’s Yap to name some.

The PBA also felt that a shootout among the league’s big men would turn out to be another interesting draw in the showcase slated this Saturday afternoon at University of St. La Salle.

Lassiter’s teammate at San Miguel and the league’s seven-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo will be leading the contest’s new division that will also feature the likes of Rain or Shine’s stretch forward Santi Santillan, Phoenix’s Jason Perkins and TNT’s Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, among others.

“Every year [we] got good shooters. These are guys who are just like me who are catch-and-shoot. Some are rhythm shooters. It all just depends on how the ball bounces sometimes. Mainly, you just got to focus on yourself. I know all of us can win it on any given night,” said Lassiter.

The 10-time PBA champion will have some sort of a boost going into the contest as he has been shooting 81.8 percent from deep, hitting nine of his 11 triples in San Miguel’s first two games in the Philippine Cup.

“I’m shooting the ball well. I just hope some’s defender’s in front of me but I know that this is a totally different thing. I’m constantly shooting the ball well the past couple of conferences so I’m trying to get in a rhythm, be consistent,” said Lassiter.

“Hopefully it just turns circle from the last time we did this to now finally getting over the hump,” he added.