Aside from 4-point shot, PBA set to introduce three new rules in Season 49

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) received mixed reactions from the public after announcing the introduction of the four-point shot, a pioneering act within the professional basketball world. 

However, this is not the only innovation that the PBA is instituting in the upcoming Season 49 which starts this Sunday, August 18, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

PBA deputy commissioner Eric Castro shared during a pre-season press conference on Wednesday that the league will also implement the removal of over the backboard violation, restriction on the official suspension of play, and coaches' hashmark. 

In the removal of over the backboard violation, it will now allow players to take their shots from behind the backboard and the officiating referees will only blow their whistle when a ball hits the timer at the top of the board.

"So in line na mapalapit po tayo sa FIBA, we will remove that over the backboard violation rule so kung magtatanong po kayo kung pwede nang mag-shoot ang players sa likod ng board, pwede na po," Castro said at the Shangri-La Manila. 

"The only violation that we are going to call is if the ball will hit any part at the top, the timer, the shot clock."

As for the restriction on the official suspension of play, players who go down the floor due to injuries or other related circumstances will be given a 15-second leeway to return to action. Otherwise, they will be substituted out of the playing court. 

"As you’ve noticed, a lot of our players, when they go down, minsan po medyo matagal bago bumangon," Castro added.

"So right now, we’re giving 15 seconds na leeway for those players down on the floor. So if within 15 seconds, if they’re not yet up, then there will be mandatory substitution."

Lastly, coaches who cross the hash mark will be given just a warning on the first infraction and then a technical foul on the second. Castro said the previous rule stated that crossing the hash mark automatically earned a technical foul. 

"Before, the moment the coaches cross the hash mark, it’s an automatic technical foul. Ngayon po, nagag-isipan po natin na bigyan ng kaunting leeway ang mga coaches."

In addition to these rules, the league will also have a new tournament format with the 12 teams divided into two groups of six, competing against their teammates twice. The top four teams in each group after the elimination round will advance to the crossover quarterfinals. 

Defending Governors' Cup champion TNT is bunched in Group A alongside reigning Philippine Cup champion Meralco as well as Converge, Terrafirma, NorthPort, and Magnolia. 

Group B, on the other hand, will see sister teams Ginebra and San Miguel pitted against each other together with Blackwater, Phoenix, NLEX, and Rain or Shine. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News