Aside from a possible championship, Jimmy Alapag’s decision to come out of retirement did not totally go wasteland. Jimmy Alapag canned a triple from left top during game two of the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup championship, the 1,243rd connection of his career, to break a standoff with Allan Caidic for the PBA All-time leadership of most treys made.
Alapag entered the finals just two shy of Caidic’s 1,242. He drilled in two during game one to tie the Triggerman and assumed the all-time lead after 4:49 mark of the second quarter of game two.
Caidic reestablished the PBA record when he fired nine of his career triples on October 15, 1991, that includes his 594th to take the lead in Presto Tivoli’s 125-142 loss to Pepsi.
Apart from Alapag and Caidic, the following composed the Top five PBA three point shot makers, all making at least 1,000 shots:
1. Jimmy Alapag 1,243
2. Allan Caidic 1,242
3. Ronnie Magsanoc 1,171
4. Dondon Hontiveros 1,118
5. Al Solis 1,000
Hontiveros is just 53 short of overtaking Ronnie Magsanoc for third. He is back with Alaska for the 2016-17 season after signing a fresh one-year deal. He connected 55, 58, 99, and 68 in his last four seasons (2012-13 to 2015-16). Judging from these performances, barring any major injury or long stints in the bench, Hontiveros should third by the end of next season.
Al Solis’ spot on the top five is highly temporary as James Yap is right behind his tail at 999. Unless some freak circumstances forces Yap to retire before the start of next season, he should quickly take over the fifth spot.
Mick Pennisi is next in line to become one of the players who makes at least 1,000 three pointers. He currently has 941. The 41 year old center made 49 treys last season in 35 games on a hot 40% shooting clip but was just 29% when he drained 35 in 41 games the year before. Penissi gave no hints of retiring yet.
Penissi realistically needs two more seasons to join the 1,000 three pointers club. If, however, he can stay consistent in making those rainbows shots, comes back for another season, be given ample time on the floor, and the Phoenix Fuel Masters continue to improve and qualify for the playoffs, he has an outside chance of attaining the mark.
Magsanoc, incidentally, is one of the assistant coaches of Alapag this season.
The player stats were derived from http://www.pba-online.net.