More to come: Lassiter feels it’s too early to embrace greatness
Before holding the record for three-pointers, Allan Caidic and Jimmy Alapag had carved their niche in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
None of them needed the record to validate their status as legends.
On Sunday, Marcio Lassiter lined himself alongside both basketball icons by seizing the three-point record with impunity. After sinking the record triple at the 7:11 mark of the first quarter and giving the Beermen an 18-5 lead, Lassiter made three more triples and helped engineer a 131-82 rout of Barangay Ginebra—a franchise mark, too.
Unlike his predecessors on the marksman’s throne, this was Lassiter’s legend-making game.
Just don’t call him a legend yet.
“I’ll let the people decide that,” Lassiter told the Inquirer on late Sunday evening at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“I find ways to keep motivating myself and this is another one but it’s not going to stop me from motivating myself to the next achievement or the next thing I want to accomplish. Until I hang my shoes up, I think that’s when I’ll officially hold that title …” added the seasoned veteran followed with a pause.
“I’m not going to say it,” he said.
What he did, however, was pay tribute to the legends that came before him.
“I feel like they paved the way for the league and obviously for the coaches. They showed that three-pointers can be weapons,” said Lassiter.
“The great Allan Caidic showed me that if you can shoot it, you can do a lot and teams and coaches started seeing that.”
“LA (Tenorio) was big on timely threes and … made it acceptable to shoot threes in the clutch,” the 37-year-old sniper said.
“Jimmy helped pave the way in expanding the three-point line and guarding guys from there,” said Lassiter.
What he did, however, was add a special touch to the record.
Of the players in the top 10 of the most career three-pointers made, Lassiter has the most championships. And he shot the best percentage at .390. Among those in the top five, he got to the record in the fewest games.
‘Deep runs’
But it was not something Lassiter set out to do.
“I think, when it comes to records, I’m more of a team guy. I haven’t really set my sights on anything individually in my career. I made Mythical, All-Defense, Comeback Player but I never got the ones that define guys like Finals MVP or all that,” the former national team star said.
“I don’t think about it. I play to win and that’s always my thing and if [individual glory] comes to me, I’m super happy but winning a championship makes me happier more than anything in the world.”
While he shuns the legend status, Lassiter says he will continue to work hard to polish his legacy in the PBA. One thing’s for sure: He won’t be able to deny his place among greats. That No. 1 ranking in a revered league mark won’t allow him to do that.
And every three-point shot he makes from hereon and every title he wins along the way will make him less hesitant to embrace his greatness.
“I really pride myself on shooting and I’ve been fortunate enough to do it. I have to be healthy to even be in these conversations alongside making deep runs in the playoffs.”
