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
Chris Banchero has done something his globally popular cousin, Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, won’t be doing in the foreseeable future.
The Meralco guard became the first player to ever hit a 4-point basket in the PBA, which officially took the lid off its new season and debuted the pioneering 27-foot stripe on Sunday night.
Banchero flicked off the comparison to his cousin.
“Nothing puts me up over him, man,” he told the Inquirer while vigorously shaking his head. “Paolo’s one of the best in the world and he’s gonna continue to be great. And I’m always cheering for him.”
Banchero hit the four-pointer at the 10:26 mark of the second period, giving the Bolts 20-17 against Magnolia in its eventual 99-94 triumph during the Governors’ Cup curtain-raiser at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ: Chris Banchero hits first-ever PBA four-point shot
His conversion is forever etched in the PBA’s record books, but Banchero feels it isn’t a compelling enough prompt to seek out the long-distance shot in each game.
“Like I said before, I don’t want to force a 4-pointer just because it’s a 4-pointer. If I can catch it in rhythm and let it fly, fine,” Banchero said.”
A three’s still good as well. I don’t want to step out; I wanna catch it in rhythm and kind of let it just flow. I don’t wanna force it.”
Banchero said it’s “fun” playing with the shot, and is eager to see whether the league keeps the much-maligned marker for the long haul.
Two others
Magnolia Hotshots’ Paul Lee during a game against the Meralco Bolts in the PBA Governors’ Cup.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Two more players hit the 4-point shot that night. Banchero’s teammate Jolo Mendoza, who was stepping in for the injured Allein Maliksi, was the second player to do so. The other was Magnolia’s Paul Lee, who drilled one early into the final period.
The Hotshots star was the player many fans and pundits felt was going to hit the historic first shot. However, it took him quite a while as he found himself on the nasty end of the Bolts’ stingy defense early on that night.
“You know, Meralco respected the [situation] right away. If you saw Chris earlier, how they played defense against me? Not so much space given to me,” Lee told reporters. “I got lucky when I hit my shot. It was on a fastbreak, which was set up by Mark (Barroca).”Like Banchero, Lee enjoyed the 4-point goal as it changed the complexion of the game.
READ: PBA: Paul Lee feels thrill of 4-pointers in season opener
“Even if you’re up by 10 (points), you can never say you’ve won the game,” he said. “Because of the four points, all it takes is one bad decision and a pair of baskets. You have a close game.”
“It makes the game more exciting. We were just down by two earlier and even if they sank two free throws, we still had a chance to tie or even take a one-point lead,” Lee added.
However, like Banchero, Lee doesn’t see the shot as something the Hotshots will plan for.
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“We’re not looking too much into it. If you’re open just take it. We also know, inside our team, who shoots from there so we’re not going to force it.” INQ
