RAIN or Shine gets an added warm body when it shoots for the no. 1 seed in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs.
Third year big man Norbert Torres is set to suit up for the Elasto Painters in their all-important game against the Meralco Bolts on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The 4:30 p.m. game will be the first for Torres since figuring in an early dawn fracas at the BGC parking lot three weeks ago in the company of former La Salle teammates Jeron Teng and Thomas Torres.
The incident left the Rain or Shine center with a long stab wound in his right arm that needed 11 stitches.
Although injured, Torres kept practicing with the team days after the skirmish, concentrating on his cardio exercises and shooting. He finally joined the Elasto Painters’ drills this week.
Torres return is indeed, a timely boost for Rain or Shine especially as it guns for a win against the Bolts that would assure them of the top spot and a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
“Yes, he’s OK to play,” was the short text message of Rain or Shine co-team owner Raymund Yu when asked by SPIN.ph about Torres’ condition.
Coach Caloy Garcia also confirmed Torres coming on board, but opted to talk a lot more on Rain or Shine’s bid to stretch its five-game winning run and improve the team’s current record that stands at 8-1 – best in the league.
“I just told the players that whoever can execute their game plan will have the edge,” said the Elasto Painters mentor. “We just have to play with lots of desire.”
Battling the Bolts is definitely going to be a war, according to Garcia.
“Both teams need the win to secure the twice-to-beat,” he said. “Meralco is a very tough team to play because they are the number 1 defensive team (in the league).”
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