PBA: Lassiter takes ‘shorter’ approach to shooting record

Marcio Lassiter had just finished his interview session in the PBA Media Day when commissioner Willie Marcial went to the San Miguel Beer veteran to make some clarifications.

“In my opinion, [the four-point shot] counts as a three,” Marcial told Lassiter and reporters, referring to the question as to how the league will interpret statistics when it comes to the three-point shot and the much-talked-about four-point line that is going to be added for the coming season.

The new line, which had its share of critics and those willing to see it as a way to add spice to the league, has created a huge implications that will affect Lassiter, who is expected to break Jimmy Alapag’s record of 1,250 career three-pointers during the season-opening Governors’ Cup.

Lassiter enters the first conference that tips off Aug. 18 third on the all-time list behind Alapag and Allan Caidic, who has 1,242 triples and owns the reputation as arguably Philippine basketball’s greatest shooter.

But the four-point line, which measures 27 feet, creates confusion as to how records will reflect if the league decides to scrap it altogether following the upcoming season which Marcial sees as an experimental period.

Where does a four-pointer count if Lassiter, who has 1,236 career triples, makes one?

That question was first raised by Lassiter’s former teammate Alex Cabagnot, who incidentally was signed to a one-year deal earlier in the week by Converge.

While Lassiter also sought clarity, he has his mind made up about how to approach Alapag’s record.

“For me, I’m gonna stick to the three-point line first and try to get that taken care of,” Lassiter said. “It’s not gonna be easy, but I will focus on that first and I’ll venture out to that four-point land [later].”

Real-time data

As a whole, a question was also raised on how statistics are going to be tabulated by the league, given the uniqueness of the new line that has not even been used in regular NBA or International Basketball Federation (Fiba) games.

Genius Sports, a global stats company which is partnering with Fiba for its Fiba Live Stats, can’t tweak its software to add the four-point category to its statistics, prompting the PBA to search for a local provider.

“We understand that Genius Sports can’t put an additional stat, but we already have a backup in place,” said Marcial.

Live statistics available online have been a source not only for PBA teams and the media, but also fans who want to have real-time data available to them.Meanwhile, Lassiter, like almost everyone, is curious as to how the new dynamics affect PBA gameplay, as well as the temptations of attempting one.

“The four-point shot is gonna be something different for all of us, especially myself,” Lassiter said. “I don’t usually take those, but I do make a few of those.”