Introduction
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.
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. With him and Van Opstal in the pivot spot manning the boards, they clinched the UAAP championship in 2013.
Amateur career
In compliance with PBA D-League requirement for incoming PBA rookies, Torres suited up for the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems.
Professional career
Torres was drafted 8th overall by the Star Hotshots in the 2015 PBA draft. In May 2016, Torres was traded by Star to Phoenix Fuel Masters in a three-team trade that also involved GlobalPort Batang Pier.
On May 18, 2023, Torres was traded to the Meralco Bolts for Mac Belo.
PBA career statistics
As of the end of 2021 season
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 |
| Career | 193 | 13.2 | .417 | .321 | .675 | 3.0 | .5 | .2 | .4 | 4.7 | |
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. 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.
Personal life
Norbert's parents, Cirilo and Dinia Torres (née dela Cruz) both hail from Calumpit, Bulacan.