Norbert Torres shines in mini-tournament to cap 2nd day of PBA Draft Combine
Norbert Torres
Norbert Torres shone the brightest as Team G – Rain or Shine ruled the 2015 Gatorade PBA Draft Combine mini-tournament Thursday.
Team G – Rain or Shine outlasted the Nico Elorde-led Team C – Kia, 13-6, at Gatorade Hoops Center in Shaw Blvd.
Torres, the stocky ex-La Salle big man who was part of the gold medal-winning Gilas Pilipinas squad in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games, led his team with five points and four rebounds in the championship game to end the second day of the Draft Combine.
Joshua Cubillo also got five markers and two boards in the Finals victory.
Under Elasto Painters assistant coach Ricky Umayam, the team comprised of Torres, Cubillo, Jaypee Mendoza, Christian Palma, Alex Almario, Eric Acuna, and Carlo Gatmaitan, took home the P50,000 cash prize
They edged other rookie hopefuls in the eight-team, single-elimination tournament played in two 5-minute halves, with PBA deputies calling the shots for the squads.
Michael Di Gregorio got four points, while Elorde had three makers and three boards in the losing effort in the championship match.
Torres, Di Gregorio, Glenn Khobuntin, Kevin Racal, Michael Mabulac were all named to the Mythical Five.
Rookie standouts Earl Scottie Thompson, Garvo Lanete, Art dela Cruz, Baser Amer, and Josan Nimes did not participate in the mini-tournament.
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
