Gabe Norwood
Encyclopedia
Gabriel Daniel Norwood also known as Gabe Norwood (born on February 9, 1985 in Fayetteville
, North Carolina
) is a Filipino-American
professional basketball player and a former NCAA basketball
player at George Mason University
. Norwood is currently playing for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the Philippine Basketball Association
. He is also a two-time member of the Philippine national basketball team.
Norwood spent his life in many different parts of the United States while his father, Brian Norwood
, now defensive coordinator at Baylor University
, coached different collegiate football teams. In high school, he and his brother (Jordan Norwood
, a former football player at Penn State
where his father coached until 2007) were part of the state championship team at State College Area High School in State College
, Pennsylvania.
by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. During the 2009 PBA All-Star Week, Norwood won in the Slam Dunk Contest among locals. Unfortunately, he failed to beat the 2006 NCAA Slam Dunk Champion and Barangay Ginebra Kings
import, David Noel
, who won the same contest but among the imports.
He won the 2008-09 PBA Rookie of the Year for his promising
performance inside the court. He was also named into the Second Mythical Team in the same awards night. In the 2010 All-Star Game in Puerto Princesa, Norwood won the Handy Fix All-Star Game MVP for his highlight dunks and moves and also because of his baskets in the critical moments of the game. He had 17 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and a block. He led the North All-Stars to a 133-130 win over the South All-Stars.
| align="left" | 2008-09
| align="left" | Rain or Shine
| 44 || 36.4 || .394 || .269 || .583 || 8.0 || 3.3 || 1.2 || .7 || 11.5
|-
| align="left" | 2009-10
| align="left" | Rain or Shine
| 35 || 38.5 || .423 || .271 || .706 || 6.8 || 3.9 || 1.4 || .9 || 14.3
|-
| align="left" | 2010-11
| align="left" | Rain or Shine
| 35 || 32.4 || .365 || .356 || .667 || 6.3 || 3.9 || 1.4 || .5 || 10.6
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 130 || 36.2 || .399 || .298 || .669 || 7.0 || 3.6 || 1.3 || .6 || 12.1
Norwood, a 6'5" guard-forward, is a member of the national basketball team of the Philippines that represented the country in the 2007 William Jones Cup, and in the FIBA Asia Championship 2007
.
He was drafted first overall in Philippine Basketball League
by the Hapee Complete Protectors
.
Norwood is better known as "The President" which was coined by Filipino Journalist and color commentator
Quinito Henson
due to his resemblance with US President Barack Obama
.
The new power couple, Norwood is frequently seen cozying up with DOLE manager / beauty Lei Feranil and are often referred to as: LeiWood.
headed by Coach Yeng Guiao
supposedly for future international competitions. The 2009 Philippines Men's National Basketball Team saw action and finished 8th overall in the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship held in Tianjin, China on August 6–16, 2009.
Fayetteville
Fayetteville is the name of a number of places in the United States of America. Many are named for General Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, a French officer who fought under General George Washington in the American Revolutionary War....
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
) is a Filipino-American
Filipino American
Filipino Americans are Americans of Filipino ancestry. Filipino Americans, often shortened to "Fil-Ams", or "Pinoy",Filipinos in what is now the United States were first documented in the 16th century, with small settlements beginning in the 18th century...
professional basketball player and a former NCAA basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player at George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
. Norwood is currently playing for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the Philippine Basketball Association
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
. He is also a two-time member of the Philippine national basketball team.
Collegiate career
Gabe Norwood is part of the 2005–06 George Mason Patriots men's basketball team. He played 35 games averaging 3.4 points per game, 2.0 rebounds per game, 2.2 assists per game, 1.0 steals per game, 42.5 FG%, 58.8FT% in 21.1 mins/game.Norwood spent his life in many different parts of the United States while his father, Brian Norwood
Brian Norwood
Brian Norwood is an American football coach . He currently serves as Assistant Head Coach to Art Briles at Baylor University. Both Norwood and Briles served as assistants to Mike Leach at Texas Tech in 2000...
, now defensive coordinator at Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
, coached different collegiate football teams. In high school, he and his brother (Jordan Norwood
Jordan Norwood
Jordan Shea Rashad Norwood is a Filipino-American American football wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He was signed by the Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Penn State.Norwood has also been a member of the Philadelphia...
, a former football player at Penn State
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
where his father coached until 2007) were part of the state championship team at State College Area High School in State College
State College, Pennsylvania
State College is the largest borough in Centre County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is the principal city of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Centre County. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 42,034, and roughly double...
, Pennsylvania.
Professional career
Gabe Norwood was the first overall pick in the 2008 PBA Draft2008 PBA Draft
The 2008 Philippine Basketball Association Rookie Draft is an event, which will allows teams to draft players from the amateur ranks. The event is set to be held at Market! Market! in Taguig City on August 31, 2008. The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters selected Gabe Norwood of the George Mason...
by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. During the 2009 PBA All-Star Week, Norwood won in the Slam Dunk Contest among locals. Unfortunately, he failed to beat the 2006 NCAA Slam Dunk Champion and Barangay Ginebra Kings
Barangay Ginebra Kings
The Barangay Ginebra Kings is a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association founded in 1979 and owned by the Ginebra San Miguel, Inc., a subsidiary of the San Miguel Corporation...
import, David Noel
David Noel
David Anthony Noel III is an American professional basketball player. A graduate of Southern High School in Durham, North Carolina and the University of North Carolina, Noel was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft with their lone pick, 39th overall.Noel...
, who won the same contest but among the imports.
He won the 2008-09 PBA Rookie of the Year for his promising
performance inside the court. He was also named into the Second Mythical Team in the same awards night. In the 2010 All-Star Game in Puerto Princesa, Norwood won the Handy Fix All-Star Game MVP for his highlight dunks and moves and also because of his baskets in the critical moments of the game. He had 17 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and a block. He led the North All-Stars to a 133-130 win over the South All-Stars.
Season
|-| align="left" | 2008-09
| align="left" | Rain or Shine
| 44 || 36.4 || .394 || .269 || .583 || 8.0 || 3.3 || 1.2 || .7 || 11.5
|-
| align="left" | 2009-10
| align="left" | Rain or Shine
| 35 || 38.5 || .423 || .271 || .706 || 6.8 || 3.9 || 1.4 || .9 || 14.3
|-
| align="left" | 2010-11
| align="left" | Rain or Shine
| 35 || 32.4 || .365 || .356 || .667 || 6.3 || 3.9 || 1.4 || .5 || 10.6
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 130 || 36.2 || .399 || .298 || .669 || 7.0 || 3.6 || 1.3 || .6 || 12.1
About the Player
Norwood, a 6'5" guard-forward, is a member of the national basketball team of the Philippines that represented the country in the 2007 William Jones Cup, and in the FIBA Asia Championship 2007
FIBA Asia Championship 2007
The 2007 FIBA Asia Championship for Men is the qualifying tournament for FIBA Asia at the men's basketball tournament at the 2008 Summer Olympics at Beijing. The tournament was held in Tokushima, Japan from July 28 to August 5, 2007....
.
He was drafted first overall in Philippine Basketball League
Philippine Basketball League
The Philippine Basketball League is a commercial semi-professional basketball league in the Philippines. The league is composed of several commercial teams with several collegiate and provincial stars.-History:...
by the Hapee Complete Protectors
Hapee Complete Protectors
The Licealiz Shampoo Hair Doctors is a basketball team currently playing in the Philippine Basketball League and is owned by the Lamoiyan Corporation. As with any team in the semi-pro PBL, the team regularly changes names, takes a leave of absence, then comes back and competes again...
.
Norwood is better known as "The President" which was coined by Filipino Journalist and color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
Quinito Henson
Quinito Henson
Quinito Henson is a Filipino sports analyst and television color commentator. His newspaper column, Sporting Chance, has appeared in the Philippine Star since the 1980s...
due to his resemblance with US President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
.
The new power couple, Norwood is frequently seen cozying up with DOLE manager / beauty Lei Feranil and are often referred to as: LeiWood.
National team
In 2008, Norwood was again named to the Philippine Training PoolPhilippines national basketball team
The men's national basketball team of the Philippines represents the Philippines in international basketball competitions. It is managed by its national basketball federation, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas...
headed by Coach Yeng Guiao
Yeng Guiao
Joseller "Yeng" Guiao is a Filipino professional basketball head coach for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the Philippine Basketball Association, and was also the head coach of the Philippine National Basketball Team. Guiao won four PBA titles since starting his head coaching job for Swift in...
supposedly for future international competitions. The 2009 Philippines Men's National Basketball Team saw action and finished 8th overall in the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship held in Tianjin, China on August 6–16, 2009.
Physical statistics
- Height: 6' 5" 195 cm ( w/o shoes), 6' 6" 198 cm ( with shoes)
- Weight: 210
- Wingspan: 7' 0"
- Vertical Leap: 38 inches