MANILA – The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is set to become the first-ever 5×5 professional basketball league to adopt a four-point shot in regular-season games.
The PBA Board of Governors has agreed to implement the innovation beginning with the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup, which will start on August 18.
The four-point shot was first tested by the PBA during the 2023 PBA All-Star Weekend match in Passi City, Iloilo last year and was repeated during this year’s PBA All-Star in Bacolod City.
During the All-Star games, players like Paul Lee, Jaymar Perez and Robert Bolick Jr. managed to convert their shots from way beyond with the latter even completing a rare five-point play after getting fouled by Calvin Oftana.
“There’s several rule changes that we’re anticipating and one of them is the four-point play,” said newly-elected PBA chairman Ricky Vargas.
An arc measuring 27 feet will be put on the court during games. The three-point line, which measures 23 feet, will stay.
“Ang feeling ko diyan bibilis ang laro and mahihirapan kang maglaro ng zone,” PBA board vice chairman Alfrancis Chua said.
“Kasi if they can shoot that far, you have to extend the zone. So basically, mag ma-man-to-man lahat (ng teams),” he added.
Meanwhile, aside from the four-point play, another key development during the PBA’s annual planning session in Osaka, Japan is the league looking at possibly building its own arena.
“We’re looking at properties in Metro Manila, about two to three hectares ang laki. Malapit na itong matuloy,” PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said./PN
