Marcio Lassiter takes over as PBA three-point king

Marcio Lassiter emphatically seized the spotlight and etched his name into PBA history as the league’s all-time leader in three-point field goals during Sunday’s clash.

From the outset, the seasoned San Miguel sharpshooter was on a relentless pursuit, netting the game’s opening points against Barangay Ginebra in the Governors’ Cup, thereby signaling his intent to eclipse the legendary Jimmy Alapag on the prestigious leaderboard.

Swiftly, the Filipino-American guard matched Alapag’s record; a pivotal corner three at the 7:41 mark tied the score at 15-5. Moments later, with 7:11 remaining, Lassiter’s historic pull-up jumper from beyond the arc shattered the record, drawing raucous applause from the stands.

As the record-setting shot swished through the net, Lassiter paused to look skyward, clasping his hands in a moment of silent gratitude, while the arena erupted in cheers for the league’s new three-point king.

The excitement reached a fever pitch when Lassiter drained his fourth three-pointer, pushing his career total to 1,252 and sending the crowd at Smart Araneta Coliseum into a delirious uproar.

Amidst the celebratory chaos, Barangay Ginebra’s coach Tim Cone found it necessary to call a timeout as Lassiter’s impressive 12 points in the first quarter propelled San Miguel to a commanding 23-7 lead.

The 37-year-old Lassiter, surrounded by his teammates in an exuberant display of camaraderie, made his way back to the bench, having converted 4 of his 5 attempts from beyond the arc.

During the halftime break, the spotlight once again found Lassiter as Commissioner Willie Marcial presented him with the game ball, commemorating his monumental achievement. Flanked by his wife and five children, it was a family affair celebrating a milestone that was both personal and historic.

Alapag, who had reached out to Lassiter prior to the game, now sits second in the rankings with 1,250 three-pointers, followed by Allan Caidic with 1,242.

Lassiter’s remarkable efficiency stands out, with a shooting accuracy of 39 percent from the three-point line, achieved over just 537 games, compared to Caidic’s 598 games at 37 percent and Alapag’s 601 games at 36 percent accuracy. This milestone not only highlighted Lassiter’s sharpshooting prowess but also his significant impact on the sport in fewer games.