Norbert Torres Explained

Norbert Torres
Position:Center / power forward
League:PBA
Team:Meralco Bolts
Number:29
Nationality:Filipino / Canadian
Birth Date:12 January 1990
Birth Place:Toronto, Ontario
Highschool:Blessed Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School (Toronto, Ontario)
College:De La Salle
Draft Year Pba:2015
Draft Round Pba:1
Draft Pick Pba:8
Draft Team Pba:Star Hotshots
Height Ft:6
Height In:6
Weight Lb:265
Career Start:2015
Years1:2015–2016
Team1:Star Hotshots
Years2:2016–2017
Team2:Phoenix Fuel Masters
Years3:2017–2018
Team3:TNT KaTropa
Years4:2018–2023
Team4:Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
Years5:2023–present
Team5:Meralco Bolts
Highlights:

Norberto Brian Torres (born January 12, 1990) is a Canadian-born Filipino professional basketball player for the Meralco Bolts of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

High school career

Torres attended his secondary education at Blessed Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada.[1]

College career

Torres played college basketball for the De La Salle Green Archers in the UAAP. He was recruited out of high school in Canada and spent three years of residency before suiting up for the Green Archers in 2011. The next year (his second playing year in UAAP), he was the Archers' starting center, often paired with Fil-German center Arnold Van Opstal.[2] With him and Van Opstal in the pivot spot manning the boards, they clinched the UAAP championship in 2013.[3]

Amateur career

In compliance with PBA D-League requirement for incoming PBA rookies, Torres suited up for the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems.[4] [5]

Professional career

Torres was drafted 8th overall by the Star Hotshots in the 2015 PBA draft.[6] In May 2016, Torres was traded by Star to Phoenix Fuel Masters in a three-team trade that also involved GlobalPort Batang Pier.[7]

On May 18, 2023, Torres was traded to the Meralco Bolts for Mac Belo.[8]

PBA career statistics

As of the end of 2023–24 season[9]

Season-by-season averages

|-| align=left rowspan=2| | align=left | Star| rowspan=2|27 || rowspan=2|9.9 || rowspan=2|.529 || rowspan=2|.536 || rowspan=2|.727 || rowspan=2|2.3 || rowspan=2|.2 || rowspan=2|.1 || rowspan=2|.2 || rowspan=2|3.6|-| align=left | Phoenix|-| align=left | | align=left | Phoenix| 24 || 14.7 || .357 || .107 || .600 || 4.3 || .4 || .2 || .5 || 3.5|-| align=left rowspan=2| | align=left | TNT| rowspan=2|31 || rowspan=2|12.0 || rowspan=2|.387 || rowspan=2|.227 || rowspan=2|.594 || rowspan=2|3.5 || rowspan=2|.4 || rowspan=2|.3 || rowspan=2|.5 || rowspan=2|3.9|-| align=left | Rain or Shine|-| align=left | | align=left | Rain or Shine| 45 || 14.1 || .377 || .306 || .727 || 2.4 || .6 || .2 || .4 || 5.2|-| align=left | | align=left | Rain or Shine| 12 || 12.4 || .413 || .300 || .737 || 3.7 || .3 || .3 || .4 || 4.8|-| align=left | | align=left | Rain or Shine| 23 || 14.4 || .434 || .302 || .792 || 2.8 || .6 || .2 || .5 || 5.1|-| align=left | | align=left | Rain or Shine| 31 || 14.4 || .468 || .416 || .634 || 2.8 || .6 || .2 || .3 || 6.5|-| align=left | | align=left | Meralco| 28 || 10.0 || .390 || .310 || .727 || 1.8 || .3 || .3 || .3 || 2.9|- class=sortbottom| align=center colspan=2 | Career| 221 || 12.8 || .414 || .320 || .677 || 2.8 || .5 || .2 || .4 || 4.5

International career

He was part of the Nokia-RP Youth team that won the Juniors SEABA title in 2008, and was named the tournament MVP.[10] In 2015, he was a member of the 12-man Sinag Pilipinas lineup that competed in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games and 2015 SEABA Championship, both held in Singapore, where they won gold medals in both occasions.[11] [12] [13]

Personal life

Norbert's parents, Cirilo and Dinia Torres (née dela Cruz) both hail from Calumpit, Bulacan.[14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hoopstars Canada - AAAA OFSAA History (2002-present) . August 25, 2015 .
  2. Web site: Macarubbo . Gabriel Enrico . Confronting the Bear: Norberto Brian Torres . The 40 Green Icons . the40greenicons.wordpress.com . 11 December 2012 . August 26, 2015 .
  3. News: De Leon . Job B. . UAAP: DLSU Green Archers win in OT, shoot down UST Growling Tigers for S76 title . . October 12, 2013 . August 26, 2015 .
  4. News: Terrado . Reuben . Cebuana Lhuillier completes upset over twice-to-beat Jumbo Plastic to reach Aspirants Cup semifinals . Spin.ph . February 2, 2015 . August 26, 2015 .
  5. News: Cebuana Lhuillier sustains support for PH Sports . . May 27, 2015 . August 26, 2015 .
  6. News: Leongson . Randolph B. . Star begins new era with Webb, rookies in tow . . August 24, 2015 . August 25, 2015 .
  7. News: Star lands RR Garcia in 8-player trade with GlobalPort, Phoenix . InterAksyon . May 11, 2016 . May 31, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160624051050/http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/star-lands-rr-garcia-in-8-player-trade-with-globalport-phoenix . June 24, 2016 .
  8. News: Meralco trades Mac Belo to Rain or Shine for Norbert Torres . Spin.ph . May 18, 2023. May 18, 2023.
  9. Web site: Norberto Torres Player Profile, Meralco Bolts - RealGM . basketball.realgm.com.
  10. News: Payo . Jasmine W. . RP Youth five bags SEABA title . . May 7, 2008 . August 26, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081006225817/http://sports.inquirer.net/breakingnews/breakingnews/view/20080507-135024/RP-Youth-five-bags-SEABA-title . October 6, 2008 . dead .
  11. News: Douthit, Ravena banner Sinag Pilipinas 12-man lineup . . April 13, 2015 . August 25, 2015 . September 26, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150926065515/http://cnnphilippines.com/sports/2015/04/13/douhit-ravena-sinag-pilipinas-lineup.html . dead .
  12. News: Douthit, Ravena, Parks lead Gilas lineup for SEABA tilt . InterAksyon . April 13, 2015 . August 25, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150904070525/http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/douthit-ravena-parks-lead-gilas-lineup-for-seaba-tilt . September 4, 2015 . dead .
  13. News: Fuentebella . Josef . Gilas Cadets win gold in SEA Games Basketball Tournament . The La Sallian . June 21, 2015 . August 25, 2015 .
  14. News: 16 Fil-foreigners in PBA draft . . Quinito Henson . Quinito Henson . August 5, 2015 . August 23, 2015 .