“Tora-Tora” Torion to oversee grassroots basketball program

CEBU, Philippines — Calling it a dream come true, Cebuano hardcourt legend Jimwell Torion looks forward with zest and enthusiasm to overseeing the grassroots basketball program under the soon-to-be launched “Sports for All” advocacy of former customs commissioner and well known drug-buster Yogi Filemon Ruiz.

This purposeful move by Ruiz endeavors to give the youth in all 80 barangays of Cebu City a platform to learn the fundamentals of playing hoops such as proper dribbling, shooting, and passing among other related drills in a weekly cage clinics to be conducted by Torion starting next month.

Ruiz, who has already made known his desire to run for mayor in next year’s elections, strongly believes in sports as an essential element not only to discover potential athletes but also to combat the two kinds of addiction plaguing the youth today - drugs and gadgets.

“The main objective of this initiative is to introduce sports to the youth, get them interested, and eventually keep them away from bad vices,” said Ruiz, the first Cebuano commissioner of the Bureau of Customs. “It is my personal conviction that if our officials want to make an impact on the lives of their constituents, sports being an effective community-builder must be integrated in their platform of governance.”

“By providing them with this kind of activities, I’m confident that the people of the barangay will be more united and get closer as friends and family, their teamwork and camaraderie will be deepened,” added the former regional director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7.

For his upcoming project, Ruiz has tapped the services of the 50-year-old Torion as coach and head trainer.

One of the best players Cebu has ever produced, Torion is a fierce competitor known for his razzle-dazzle plays and outside shooting skills that earned him the nickname”Tora-Tora” during his glory days in the PBA.   

“Pasalamat ko ni sir Yogi kay nakahinumdum siya nako,” said Torion, whose decorated hoop career may be marred with controversies but has definitely left an enduring legacy as one of the iconic figures in Philippine cagedom.

Torion spent six of his seven years with the Red Bull Barakos, where he won three championships under the guidance of coach Yeng Guiao. He also had brief stints with Sta. Lucia Realtors and Air21 Express before bowing out of Asia’s first pro for good in 2007 with a career average of 7.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 254 games.

“Kanang pag-train sa mga bata, damgo na nako ug matuman na gyud,” the pride of Argao continued. “Ako ning linya ug nangandoy gyud ko nga makahatag og legacy sa natad sa basketball.” -- EBV