Norbert Torres admitted that joining Barangay Ginebra felt surreal at first, having spent most of his PBA career on teams that were fierce rivals of the league’s most popular squad.
“In my whole career, I was trying to beat Ginebra, beat Ginebra. And now I’m with Ginebra,” said the 35-year-old stretch big man.
Torres joined the Gin Kings in the offseason after two seasons with the Meralco Bolts, one of Ginebra’s biggest adversaries. His career began a decade ago with Magnolia—then known as the Star Hotshots—where he saw action in several heated “Manila Clasico” showdowns against the Kings. He also suited up for TNT from 2017 to 2018, another squad with a long history of battling Ginebra.
Now wearing the red and white, Torres hopes to set aside that initial odd feeling and help Ginebra chase its first championship since the 2022–23 Commissioner’s Cup. His contributions will be crucial in the Philippine Cup, especially with veteran forward Japeth Aguilar sidelined early in the season after finger surgery.
“It’s a new feeling, but I’m happy and excited to be here,” Torres said, embracing the challenge of winning a title with the team he once tried so hard to defeat.