Talk ‘N Text’s Larry Fonacier PBA IMAGE/ Nuki Sabio(file)
MANILA, Philippines—With eight minutes left to play on Wednesday night, Larry Fonacier nailed his 500th career three-pointer in less than a decade’s stay in the PBA.
Fonacier, drafted in 2005, joined 22 others who also have achieved such feat in the league’s history, according to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon.
“I’m old,” Fonacier told INQUIRER.net with a laugh, when asked what the milestone meant.
“It’s just by God’s grace, after that’s all that happened. My injury, never thought I’d come this far,” Fonacier added.
But the 30-year-old marksman insisted that all the accolades are just second to helping his team bring home the titles.
Which, by the way, he has done repeatedly with Alaska and Talk ’N Text.
“Not really [aiming to making the list], I’ve always been about winning championships, and sacrificing for the team,” Fonacier said.
A triple from Fonacier was the turning point in the Talk ’N Text’s 86-76 win over Rain or Shine, as it gave them the lead, 68-66, which they never relinquished.
Fonacier, then, made his 500th basket from long distance—only becoming the second Texter to do so—to widen their gap, 79-70.
The other one is veteran point guard Jimmy Alapag, who has 1,052 treys and counting.
Whether he’ll be able enter that elite club of all-time leading three-point scorers: “I don’t think so, but I’ll try.”
“But like I said, I’m just after the championship and making teams better and if that milestone comes, then so be it,” Fonacier said.
And that’s making the Texters better is what he repeatedly does, giving them a big lift on Wednesday with 17 points—all but five coming in the second half.
“We really need this winning streak to give us some momentum. This gives us a little rhythm,” Fonacier shared. “I think we’re getting back in shape and improving our defense and it’s what we need to make a deep run this conference.”