Torion out of rehab soon

Before the month ends, Jimwell Torion may be released from the drug rehabilitation center he’s in at the moment and recommended for reinstatement in the Philippine Basketball Association.

This developed as the Life Management Foundation Inc. identified Torion only as a "social habitual" drug user after the initial psychological test conducted on the Red Bull player.

"Social habituals" are those who use drugs on occasions na naaya lang at hindi makatanggi doon sa nag-aaya. Hindi ito iyung mga users na talagang hinahanap ang drugs," said Reynato Sanvictores, a senior treatment counselor at the rehab center who serves as Torion's personal counselor.

Sanvictores said Torion's status will be confirmed within a week more of stay in the Makati rehab center.

"Once we confirm our initial test that he’s only a social habitual user and not an abuser, he could be out of here in less than a month but would be asked to report at least twice a week. Kapag tuloy-tuloy ang improvement magiging once a week na lang, then once a month at hanggang sa mabawasan ng mabawasan," said Sanvictores.

Once allowed to go home, Sanvictores said Torion will be given recommendation to resume his old job. "Kasi kapag pinalabas ka, ibig sabihin okay ka. Hindi mo hahanapin ang problemang ito," said Sanvictores.

Confined at the Life Management Foundation for a little over two weeks after testing positive for a banned substance in a random drug test by the PBA, Torion got a surprise visit from the whole Red Bull team Monday night.

Before leaving, the Thunder offered to win their game tonight against the Shell Turbochargers to Torion.

And that would be make it tough for Shell with the team needing to win its last two games in the Samsung PBA All-Filipino Cup eliminations to avoid a possible playoff with Barangay Ginebra for the last slot in the quarterfinals.

Tonight’s other game at the Philsports Arena features Talk N Text gunning for an outright entry in the mid-season Asian Invitationals against Purefoods.

The Turbochargers take on the Thunder at 5 p.m., then the Phone Pals tackle the Hotdogs at 7:30 p.m.

"Tuwang-tuwa ako binisita nila ako. Inip na inip na ako pero nagtitiyaga ako dahil alam kong para sa akin ito," said Torion.

"Marami naman akong natutunan. Namulat ako sa mga maling nagawa ko," the Cebuano pointguard added.

According to Torion, he and his rehab classmates are not actually confined inside the center. He said: "Gising na kami ng alas-sais tapos marami kaming pinupuntahang lugar around Metro Manila like PGH at ibang rehab centers. Nakikinig kami ng mga lectures."