Not even Justin Brownlee’s record-setting night would convert a basketball purist like Tim Cone into a fan of the PBA’s controversial four-point shot.
The Ginebra head coach kept his stance firm on the much-talked-about 27-foot shot, saying that there’s more to the game than just shooting from afar like what has been becoming a trend of sorts in recent years.
“Well, just because it favors our team having Justin around and making those fours doesn’t mean that I’m a fan of the four-point line,” he said.
“I just believe that the game has evolved into shooting–taking quick shots, taking four-pointers. If you watch practices, guys practice, all they do is shoot threes and shoot fours. And I think the game is a lot more than that.
“I think we’re kind of just evolving into that idea that we’re just gonna be a three or a four-point shooting game. There’s so much more in the game,” he added.
Cone said as much on Wednesday after witnessing his resident import go 5-of-6 from the second arc for 33 points to power the crowd darlings to a 122-105 win over San Miguel in Game 1 of their Season 49 Governors’ Cup semifinals.
It is now the new single-game record for most four-pointers made in a game, eclipsing the previous mark of four set by Magnolia teammates Paul Lee and Jerrick Ahanmisi and Blackwater reinforcement George King.
And his performance gave a quick reminder as well of what Cone had said back in the annual Media Day last August when asked about it, saying, “I’m not a fan, but it’s out of our control [and] it’s something we have to deal with.”
Reminded about that, he went on to explain why he doesn’t support the four, explaining that it gives the impression — especially to the young ones — that shooting is all enough, knowing that there are other facets not to be forgotten.
“With the four-point shot, and just my personal opinion, I think we’re putting the pressure on young kids to come out and just shoot,” he offered.
“Learn to shoot, and that’s good enough. And I think the game is more than that. So that’s why I don’t agree with it,” added the 66-year-old bench tactician.
But it’s not to say, though, that he’d discourage his players to use the four, especially when the opportunity is right in front of them.
On Wednesday alone, Brownlee showed how much the 27-footer could be a game-changer, going a perfect 3-for-3 from that area en route to 20 points in the third quarter alone to power Ginebra’s breakaway from its rivals.
“If it’s out there, we’re gonna use that as a weapon,” said Cone. “But it doesn’t necessarily mean that I agree with that.”
