When I first started covering the PBA back in the early 2000s, the three-point shot was more of a novelty than a weapon. Teams would occasionally launch one when the shot clock was winding down, but nobody built their offense around it. Fast forward to today, and the landscape has completely transformed. The question of who truly deserves the title of best three-point shooter in PBA history isn't just about counting makes and misses—it's about understanding how the shot has evolved and who mastered it at the highest level when it mattered most.
I remember watching Jimmy Alapag during the 2011-12 Philippine Cup finals, and something just clicked. The man wasn't just shooting; he was conducting the game's tempo with every release. His percentage might not always crack the top five in any given season—he shot around 34% for his career from deep—but when TNT needed a momentum-shifting three, number 3 was money. The hard part was putting together that championship bout between his methodical approach and the raw explosiveness of someone like James Yap. Yap's 2012 Governor's Cup performance lives rent-free in my mind—27 points in one half, including five threes that felt like daggers. Statistics show he made 42% from beyond the arc that conference, a number that still makes my eyebrows rise. But here's where it gets messy: longevity versus peak performance. Do we crown the consistent performer or the player who reached the highest heights?
Let's talk about the modern era. I've had countless debates in press rooms about whether Marcio Lassiter's textbook form makes him the purest shooter we've ever seen. His 2019 season where he nailed 45% of his threes on over six attempts per game is statistically staggering. But then there's the undeniable clutch gene of LA Tenorio. I was courtside when he hit that game-winner against San Miguel in the 2017 Commissioner's Cup—the defense knew it was coming, everyone in the arena knew it was coming, and he still buried it. The numbers don't always capture those moments. Tenorio's career percentage floats around 36%, but ask any coach who they'd want taking that final shot with the game on the line, and his name comes up more often than not.
What fascinates me about this debate is how much context matters. The three-point line moved back in 2004, which immediately separates the conversation into two distinct eras. Players from the 90s like Allan Caidic—the original "Triggerman"—were shooting over shorter closeouts with less sophisticated defensive schemes. Caidic's legendary 17 three-pointers in a single game record from 1991 will probably never be broken, but would his shooting translate to today's more athletic, longer defenders? We can only speculate. Meanwhile, contemporary shooters like RR Pogoy face switching defenses designed specifically to run them off the line. Pogoy's ability to hit contested threes off screens—he made 38% last season while being the primary focus of opposing defenses—deserves more recognition than it typically gets.
If you forced me to pick one, I'd have to go with Alapag, but not for the reasons you might expect. Beyond the numbers, he revolutionized how Filipino point weapons. He made the three-pointer a strategic tool rather than just a scoring option. I recall a conversation with a veteran coach who told me Alapag changed their entire defensive game planning—you had to account for his range from the moment you stepped off the bus. The hard part was putting together that championship bout between statistical excellence and transformative impact. Players like Caidic have the numbers, Tenorio has the memorable moments, but Alapag changed the very fabric of the game. His leadership during the 2012-13 season, where he hit 39% from deep while averaging 5 assists, represents that perfect blend of individual excellence and team success.
At the end of the day, this isn't a debate with a definitive answer—and that's what makes it so compelling. Every generation will have its favorite, every statistician their preferred metric. The beauty of Philippine basketball is how these shooting legends have collectively elevated the importance of the three-pointer. From Caidic's record-setting performances to Alapag's big-moment brilliance and Lassiter's mechanical perfection, each has contributed to making the long ball an essential weapon in every team's arsenal. The next time you watch a player rise up from beyond the arc, remember you're witnessing the culmination of decades of evolution—and that somewhere in the stands, another future legend might be watching, dreaming of one day joining this very conversation.
