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).
 Torres in 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 29 – Meralco Bolts | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Center / power forward | ||||||||||||||||||||
| League | PBA | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | January 12, 1990 Toronto, Ontario | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Filipino / Canadian | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 265 lb (120 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||
| High school | Blessed Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School (Toronto, Ontario) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| College | De La Salle | ||||||||||||||||||||
| PBA draft | 2015: 1st round, 8th overall pick | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Selected by the Star Hotshots | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 2015–present | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2016 | Star Hotshots | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | Phoenix Fuel Masters | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | TNT KaTropa | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2023 | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023–present | Meralco Bolts | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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High school career
editTorres attended his secondary education at Blessed Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada.[1]
College career
editTorres 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
editIn compliance with PBA D-League requirement for incoming PBA rookies, Torres suited up for the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems.[4][5]
Professional career
editTorres 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
edit| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
As of the end of 2023–24 season[9]
Season-by-season averages
edit| Year | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | Star | 27 | 9.9 | .529 | .536 | .727 | 2.3 | .2 | .1 | .2 | 3.6 |
| Phoenix | |||||||||||
| 2016–17 | Phoenix | 24 | 14.7 | .357 | .107 | .600 | 4.3 | .4 | .2 | .5 | 3.5 |
| 2017–18 | TNT | 31 | 12.0 | .387 | .227 | .594 | 3.5 | .4 | .3 | .5 | 3.9 |
| Rain or Shine | |||||||||||
| 2019 | Rain or Shine | 45 | 14.1 | .377 | .306 | .727 | 2.4 | .6 | .2 | .4 | 5.2 |
| 2020 | Rain or Shine | 12 | 12.4 | .413 | .300 | .737 | 3.7 | .3 | .3 | .4 | 4.8 |
| 2021 | Rain or Shine | 23 | 14.4 | .434 | .302 | .792 | 2.8 | .6 | .2 | .5 | 5.1 |
| 2022–23 | Rain or Shine | 31 | 14.4 | .468 | .416 | .634 | 2.8 | .6 | .2 | .3 | 6.5 |
| 2023–24 | Meralco | 28 | 10.0 | .390 | .310 | .727 | 1.8 | .3 | .3 | .3 | 2.9 |
| Career | 221 | 12.8 | .414 | .320 | .677 | 2.8 | .5 | .2 | .4 | 4.5 | |
International career
editHe 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
editNorbert's parents, Cirilo and Dinia Torres (née dela Cruz) both hail from Calumpit, Bulacan.[14]
References
edit- ^ "Hoopstars Canada - AAAA OFSAA History (2002-present)". Retrieved August 25, 2015.
- ^ Macarubbo, Gabriel Enrico (11 December 2012). "Confronting the Bear: Norberto Brian Torres". the40greenicons.wordpress.com. The 40 Green Icons. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
- ^ De Leon, Job B. (October 12, 2013). "UAAP: DLSU Green Archers win in OT, shoot down UST Growling Tigers for S76 title". GMA News and Public Affairs. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
- ^ Terrado, Reuben (February 2, 2015). "Cebuana Lhuillier completes upset over twice-to-beat Jumbo Plastic to reach Aspirants Cup semifinals". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
- ^ "Cebuana Lhuillier sustains support for PH Sports". Philippine Daily Inquirer. May 27, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
- ^ Leongson, Randolph B. (August 24, 2015). "Star begins new era with Webb, rookies in tow". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
- ^ "Star lands RR Garcia in 8-player trade with GlobalPort, Phoenix". InterAksyon. May 11, 2016. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
- ^ "Meralco trades Mac Belo to Rain or Shine for Norbert Torres". Spin.ph. May 18, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
- ^ "Norberto Torres Player Profile, Meralco Bolts - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com.
- ^ Payo, Jasmine W. (May 7, 2008). "RP Youth five bags SEABA title". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
- ^ "Douthit, Ravena banner Sinag Pilipinas 12-man lineup". CNN Philippines. April 13, 2015. Archived from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
- ^ "Douthit, Ravena, Parks lead Gilas lineup for SEABA tilt". InterAksyon. April 13, 2015. Archived from the original on September 4, 2015. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
- ^ Fuentebella, Josef (June 21, 2015). "Gilas Cadets win gold in SEA Games Basketball Tournament". The La Sallian. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
- ^ Quinito Henson (August 5, 2015). "16 Fil-foreigners in PBA draft". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 23, 2015.