Meralco Bolts guard Chris Banchero etched his name into basketball history by sinking the first four‑point shot in competitive play. The moment arrived during a Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) game, a league that had already introduced a four‑point line positioned well beyond eight meters from the basket. The scene was set as fans watched the ball arc through the air and drop cleanly through the net, signaling a new era for the sport in the region.
The four‑point play was not a mere novelty. It marked a strategic expansion of the game, offering teams a fresh way to stretch defenses and employ longer‑range scoring as part of regular season competition. The PBA had rolled out the rule earlier in the season, testing the waters at the 2023 All‑Star Game before formalizing it for the league’s 5×5 play. This made the PBA the first major professional basketball league to officially sanction four‑point field goals within its official regulations, a milestone that drew attention from leagues around the world observing how extra points could reshape late‑game decisions and overall pacing.
In that memorable game, the Meralco Bolts defeated the Magnolia Hotshots 99–94, a close finish that added extra drama to the historic four‑point milestone. Banchero’s shot came at a moment when the scoreline underscored the potential impact of the rule change, illustrating how a single long‑distance bucket could swing momentum and alter the strategic approach of both teams in real time.
Following Banchero’s successful attempt, a second Bolts player, Jolo Mendoza, stepped to the line to try another four‑point try, underscoring the team’s willingness to push the envelope and employ the rule to its full tactical potential. Earlier in the same sequence, Chris Newsome had been the first to attempt a four‑point shot from the designated area but missed, leaving the door open for later performers to carry the moment into highlight reels and discussions about the league’s evolving scoring landscape.
The PBA itself carries a rich history. It was founded in 1975 and holds the position of Asia’s first professional basketball league, a pioneer in bringing high‑level, organized competition to a wide audience across the region. Today, the PBA stands as one of the oldest professional basketball tournaments still actively played, illustrating a long tradition of competitive play and fan engagement that has helped shape basketball culture in the Philippines. In contrast, the National Basketball Association (NBA), which began in 1946, is widely recognized as the oldest professional basketball league with ongoing operations at the highest global level. The PBA’s enduring presence highlights a distinct regional narrative—one that blends local talent, passionate fan bases, and a willingness to adapt with the times while preserving the heritage that makes its games uniquely compelling to audiences in Canada, the United States, and beyond.
In a broader context, the sport’s most celebrated players have left their mark on the world stage. LeBron James, a figure often cited in discussions of basketball greatness, has earned MVP honors across major competitions and has been a defining presence in Olympic competition. His career serves as a benchmark for how excellence at the highest levels informs and inspires leagues worldwide, including those in Asia and North America where fans closely follow the evolution of scoring, strategy, and star power.