The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is making history by being the first professional league to include a four-point line to its scoring options when the new season begins on August 18.
During their annual league planning session over the weekend in Osaka, Japan, the league's Board of Governors accepted the motion, which calls for drawing an arc on the floors that is 27 feet away from the rim.
Four-point innovation
During the 2023 All-Star Game in Passi, Iloilo, the PBA introduced the four-point shot for the first time. It was later used again in the Bacolod edition of the previous season.
"Nagawa na natin ito sa All-Star Game. With this rule, mababawasan ang zone defense, lalabas ang depensa at mas tutulin ang laro (We did this already in the All-Star Game. With this rule, the zone defense will be minimized. Teams will unleash their best defense and the game will become faster)," Ginebra governor Alfrancis Chua, the new PBA board vice chair, said via the PBA website
When the American Basketball Association (ABA) was resurrected in the 2000s, half-court shots were counted as four-pointers, making it the first professional league to have such a rule. Meanwhile, the PBA will be the first league to have a designated line for it.
Bringing more eyes to the PBA
The PBA, which has been re-establishing its power on national television for a number of years, is also searching for additional ways to assist in regaining consistent live attendance, including a fan zone in PBA games.
"Like those in the upper box, ang mahal ng binayad nila sa pagpasok sa venue (they paid too much just to enter the venue), then all they get eh kaway kaway lang sa (were only waves from the) players. Kakausapin ko ang mga coach, i-allow nila ang mga players lumapit sa (I will talk to the coaches that players should be allowed to come near the) fans," Chua said.
In an effort to "make the game more exciting," more new regulations will be introduced for the 49th season of the PBA, according to the news release.
