Norbert Torres

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).

Norbert Torres

Torres in 2015
No. 29 – Meralco Bolts
Position	Center / power forward
League	PBA
Personal information
Born	(1990-01-12) January 12, 1990 (age 34) 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
PBA champion (2024 Philippine) PBA All-Star (2017) UAAP champion (2013) PCCL champion (2013)
Medals Men's basketball Representing  Philippines Southeast Asian Games 2015 Singapore Team SEABA Championship 2015 Singapore Team

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

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

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

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]

References

1. "Hoopstars Canada - AAAA OFSAA History (2002-present)". Retrieved August 25, 2015.
2. Macarubbo, Gabriel Enrico (11 December 2012). "Confronting the Bear: Norberto Brian Torres". the40greenicons.wordpress.com. The 40 Green Icons. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. "Cebuana Lhuillier sustains support for PH Sports". Philippine Daily Inquirer. May 27, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
6. Leongson, Randolph B. (August 24, 2015). "Star begins new era with Webb, rookies in tow". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
7. "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.
8. "Meralco trades Mac Belo to Rain or Shine for Norbert Torres". Spin.ph. May 18, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
9. "Norberto Torres Player Profile, Meralco Bolts - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com.
10. 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.
11. "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.
12. "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.
13. Fuentebella, Josef (June 21, 2015). "Gilas Cadets win gold in SEA Games Basketball Tournament". The La Sallian. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
14. Quinito Henson (August 5, 2015). "16 Fil-foreigners in PBA draft". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 23, 2015.