PBA: Low 4-point percentage has some players shy away from change

Meralco guard Chris Banchero gestures after hitting the first four-point shot in the PBA early in the second quarter against Magnolia.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

The first week of the PBA’s “four-point era” had its share of highs and lows as teams mostly made good on their promise to use the longest arc when the opportunity presented itself.

For those keeping track, 30 out of 138 attempts were made from beyond the 27-foot distance for 21.7 percent, a clip that gives a big room for improvement for the rest of the season-opening Governors’ Cup and the rest of the season.

On average, teams fire a total of 5.8 per contest, making 1.3 through 12 games of the group stage, and that’s an indication of the need to be better or simply how the defenses deal with the additional line.

“I have mixed emotions about the four-point line because it has its advantages and disadvantages,” said NorthPort’s Arvin Tolentino, who had one conversion while trying to rally the Batang Pier late in a 101-95 loss to TNT.

As one player has been hitting consistently and some successfully made those in a timely manner, those expected to thrive from the spot have yet to heat up. One import who has since been replaced was jacking it up from afar to no avail, while one team couldn’t find the mark when they went for the shot out of desperation.

“It’s a new game for us. It’s fun when you try to make a run, but it’s different when you’re up,” Tolentino continued. “Definitely, the [spacing on the] floor has became a lot wider because players will be worried about leaving guys open from that spot.”

Already with three

Meralco’s Chris Banchero earned the distinction as the first to officially knock down that shot, doing it against Magnolia on opening night last Aug. 18. He has hit one more since, in a loss to TNT.

Banchero’s entry into the history books came at the expense of Magnolia’s Jerrick Ahanmisi, who would knock down three against Converge, including back-to-back makes in the first quarter of a 105-93 win.

Ahanmisi has hit more than his Hotshots teammate Paul Lee, who currently has just one four-pointer out of three tries. Lee came into this season as among the few who could likely benefit from the long bomb but has been conservative on his approach.

NLEX’s Robert Bolick has only made one as well, albeit in six attempts after two games. He seems to not mind at all, given the Road Warriors’ status as among the teams carrying 2-0 slates in Group B.

One of the Road Warriors’ wins came against the Blackwater Bossing, whose now ex-import Ricky Ledo attempted more 27-foot shots than any player at this point of the conference with seven.

That could be part of the reason why he was sent home, as Ledo missed all of those attempts. Ledo was not in action Sunday when his former team lost to the San Miguel Beermen, 128-108, despite a 10-point lead in the third.

Trying it the most

Phoenix is the team that has the most number of attempts in a game with 12. All two conversions were credited to RR Garcia, who was instrumental in leading the Fuel Masters back from a 23-point deficit against the Road Warriors and even led by four in the fourth. But two misses from JJay Alejandro late eventually left them bowing, 100-95, Sunday.

Phoenix fell victim to a crucial quadruple by CJ Perez from the right side of the arc, eventually keying San Miguel Beer’s 111-107 win. Perez later said it took some guts to go for it during the latter moments even as the Fuel Masters missed twice from Ricci Rivero and Tyler Tio before the final horn.

Fran Yu’s desperation heave to end the third quarter of NorthPort’s 112-93 win over Terrafirma made him a first to nail the four-pointer from way, way out, while Rain or Shine’s Felix Lemetti got to the free throw line after being fouled from that spot against Barangay Ginebra, making three of four freebies.

Converge import Scotty Hopson made all of his three tries in a 46-point performance against Terrafirma, even as TNT’s Calvin Oftana joked that he may go for more fours than threes after going 2-for-2 from the farther rainbow territory while missing six of seven from the nearer line against Tolentino and NorthPort.

One thing that has yet to transpire is the five-point play, which Bolick did during the waning seconds of the All-Star Game in Bacolod City last month and was one of the reasons why the PBA decided to put up a four-point arc as an experiment this season. INQ