Marcio Lassiter is PBA's new 3-point king after early long-range barrage

With this shot, Marcio Lassiter is now on top of the PBA's three-point ladder. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

QUEZON CITY--It only took less than five basketball minutes for Marcio Lassiter to make PBA history.

Lassiter's mission was accomplished on Sunday night when he became the league's new top all-time three-point shooter.

Needing only three triples to break the old record set by Jimmy Alapag entering the game, San Miguel wasted no time in giving Lassiter the ball, and right on the team's very first attempt, Lassiter hit a right-wing three for his 1,249th career trey.

Lassiter then converted a right corner three to tie Alapag's record of 1,250, and right after he secured a rebound in the next play, Lassiter took matters into his own hands and dribbled his way into an area between the top of the key and the left wing for his stop-and-pop three that reset PBA history.

Lassiter's record-setting 1,251st career three-pointer came at the 7:10 mark of the first quarter, and come the first timeout of the game, he was 4-of-5 from 22 feet out to even up his total threes made to 1,252.

Inspired by his record-breaking performance, the Beermen raced to a 37-13 lead against Barangay Ginebra at the end of the first quarter.

Lassiter's score is just one short of Ginebra's total first-quarter points, while CJ Perez actually matched the team's total output.

Follow him on X: @IvanSaldajeno