2025-11-17 12:00
by
nlpkak
I remember sitting in the Araneta Coliseum back in 2016, watching James Yap drain three consecutive three-pointers against Ginebra, and the entire arena just erupted. That's when it hit me - we were witnessing something special, but was it the greatest three-point shooting performance in PBA history? The debate about who truly deserves the title of best three-point shooter has been raging among Filipino basketball fans for decades, and honestly, I don't think there's ever been a clear consensus.
Let me take you back to 1990, when Allan Caidic dropped 17 three-pointers in a single game. Seventeen! I still get chills thinking about that record. He scored 79 points that night, and what makes it more impressive is that he did it against a formidable Alaska team. The man was practically unconscious from beyond the arc, shooting 17-of-27 from three-point land. Those weren't just open looks either - he was creating his own shots, coming off screens, and hitting contested jumpers. The hard part was putting together that championship bout between his pure shooting form and the defensive schemes designed to stop him. I've watched the footage countless times, and what strikes me most is how effortless he made it look, like he was just playing catch in his backyard rather than breaking a professional basketball record that would stand for generations.
Now, let's fast forward to the modern era and talk about someone like Marcio Lassiter. The guy has been absolutely lethal from downtown throughout his career, holding the record for most three-pointers made in a single season with 212 during the 2019 Commissioner's Cup. His shooting percentage that season was around 42%, which is just ridiculous when you consider the volume. I've always admired how he moves without the ball - he's constantly working to get open, using screens effectively, and his release is so quick that defenders barely have time to react. But here's where it gets complicated - while Lassiter's numbers are phenomenal, does regular season dominance translate to championship pedigree? That's where players like Jimmy Alapag come into the conversation.
I'll never forget watching Alapag in the 2013 Commissioner's Cup finals. The man was clutch beyond belief, hitting crucial three-pointers when it mattered most. His career three-point percentage might not blow you away at around 36%, but he had this incredible ability to make the big shots when the game was on the line. The hard part was putting together that championship bout between statistical excellence and clutch performance. Statistics can tell you who the most consistent shooter is, but they can't always measure heart and timing. Alapag had this fearless mentality that I've always admired - he wouldn't hesitate to take the big shot regardless of how he'd been shooting earlier in the game.
Then there's Jeff Chan, who people often call the "Triggerman" for his quick release and accuracy. I remember specifically watching him during the 2012 Governor's Cup where he shot 44% from three-point range throughout the playoffs. What made Chan special was his ability to create his own shot off the dribble - he wasn't just a spot-up shooter. He could come off screens, catch and shoot, or pull up in transition. The hard part was putting together that championship bout between pure shooting form and basketball IQ. Chan understood spacing and timing better than most shooters I've watched in the PBA.
If we're talking pure shooting mechanics, I'd have to give the edge to Caidic. His form was textbook perfect - elbow in, follow through, high release point. But basketball isn't played in a vacuum, and modern defenses are much more sophisticated about defending the three-point line. That's why I think this debate needs context. Players like Paul Lee have adapted to these modern defenses by developing step-back threes and off-the-dribble shooting that Caidic rarely needed in his era. Lee's game-winning three against San Miguel in the 2016 Philippine Cup finals was a thing of beauty - contested, off the dribble, with the game on the line.
The evolution of the three-point shot in the PBA is fascinating to track. In the early days, it was more of a specialty weapon, but now it's become fundamental to every team's offense. This makes comparing eras particularly challenging. Caidic was revolutionary for his time, while contemporary shooters like RR Garcia are products of a system that emphasizes spacing and three-point shooting. Garcia's quick release and ability to shoot coming off screens reminds me of Caidic, but in a modern context.
What really separates the good shooters from the great ones, in my opinion, is consistency under pressure. I've seen too many players who can light it up during the elimination rounds but disappear in the playoffs. That's why my personal choice for the best three-point shooter in PBA history might surprise you - it's Allan Caidic, but not just because of that legendary 17-three-pointer game. It's because of his sustained excellence throughout his career and his ability to maintain his shooting form regardless of the defense or situation. The hard part was putting together that championship bout between raw numbers and the eye test, and when I balance both, Caidic still comes out on top for me.
That said, I completely understand why younger fans might argue for contemporary shooters. The game has evolved, defenses are better, and the three-point line has become more crowded with capable shooters. But having watched basketball across different eras, there's just something about Caidic's pure shooting stroke that stands the test of time. His record of 17 threes in a single game isn't just a number - it's a testament to shooting perfection that I'm not sure we'll ever see matched in our lifetime.
