Tim Cone, the winningest coach in PBA history, is not thrilled at all to see the four-point shot to be implemented in the league’s coming season.
“I’m not a fan. In my honest opinion, I think it’s great for All-Star Games where it’s all fun and games, but not for serious basketball,” wrote Cone in a text message to Pinoystep.com.
The four-point shot was initially brought by the PBA during the All-Star Game last season and while the reason behind the adoption is to speed up the games — and possibly to harness the shooting skills of Filipinos who are relatively smaller when competing against bigger players in the international circuit — such innovation may or may not add excitement to the league.
Multi-titled coaches Chot Reyes of TNT and Yeng Guiao of Rain or Shine had reservations on the adoption of the four-point shot whether it will work in bringing excitement or not, but they also look forward seeing such innovation bringing in more success to the game, an opinion equally shared by returning PBA mentor Jong Uichico of NLEX.
But Cone, who also handles the Gilas Pilipinas men’s basketball team, believes the vision of adopting a four-point shot veers them away from the philosophy of the International Basketball Federation.
Cone led the Philippines in winning back the Asian Games gold medal last year, ending more than five decades of title drought, and gave Gilas a good fighting chance of securing an Olympic berth, but fell short in the recent Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Latvia.
The American mentor is still in the midst of finding ways at how to spearhead the squad’s entry to the biggest sports spectacle on earth and lead the Philippines back to the Olympic basketball scene for the first time since 1972.
“I also think (the four-point shot) takes us further away from FIBA, and it will be so tougher for Gilas to adjust in normal competitions,” added Cone.
The four-point shot didn’t catch the fancy of Cone, but Meralco coach Luigi Trillo, who just recently helped his team in winning its first PBA championship, is ready to embrace such innovation.
“I think the PBA is leaving no stone unturned,” added Trillo. “It’s nice to know that they’re thinking outside of the box and try something. We will never know if it will be successful until we try it. I think it’s innovative.”
Unlike Cone, Trillo believes it will even help our national team getting more equipped for future major international tournaments.
“This may even help our national team because of the range we may get used to shooting at that distance. For us coaches, analytics will play a big part and a four-point lead will not be a sure thing anymore,” added Trillo.
