PBB:

Magnolia acquired versatile attacker William Navarro from Magnolia in exchange for veteran Calvin Abueva in an exchange that could strengthen the title bid of the hotshots in the PBA Philippine Cup.

The PBA approved the deal on Tuesday, which also sends Jerrick Balanza and the second round of the hotshots in the 51st season of the competition to secure Navarro’s services.

Read: PBA: Magnolia Books Quarters, Tops Skidding Northport

It was the second time that Magnolia was able to acquire young talent from Northport after he had received Zavier Lucero in low season.

Rumors that Navarro may have been dealt with had been swirls for months, even after the Batang Pier had taken the semi -final of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup all the way.

William Navarro van Northport Batang Pier during PBA Commissioner’s Cup 2025. –Marlo Cueto/Inqiuirer.net

But reports emerged earlier in the day that the two teams were able to come to terms, but needed the go signal of the competition to do the deal.

Navarro was set up by Northport in the special round for Gilas Pilipinas Pool -members in 2021, but only made his debut in the 2022 Commissioner’s Cup after a broken movement to play in the Korean basketball competition.

Read: PBA: William Navarro confidence for sure that he can deliver in more minute

But an ACL injury brought the Ateneo product aside for more than a year and returned to the Filipino Cup 2024. Although the entry of Northport for this season was mainly due to Arvin Tolentino, Navarro served as one of the backbone of the Batang Pier’s success.

In the current Filipino cup, Navarro is on average 20.6 points, fourth among players and 10.6 rebounds in third place, but Northport has been restored to a 1-6 record.

Calvin Abueva from Magnolia Hothots with coach Chito Victolero during the 50 -year anniversary game of the PBA in Rizal Memorial Coliseum. -Marlo Cueto/Inquirer

Ironically, Navarro’s last match for the Batang Pier was against the hotshots, with 27 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and four steals in a loss of 106-97 in Candon City, Ilocos Sur.

Abueva ends his four -year stay at Magnolia that started in the Philippine Cup 2021 when he was the best player in the conference for leading the hotshots to the final. Northport will be the fourth team of Abueva in his professional career that also stopped Alaska and Phoenix.

Magnolia received Abueva from Phoenix after a successful return to the field in the 2020 Philippine Cup bubble after a 16-month suspension due to repeated misconduct.

Although there were incidents when Abueva got into trouble, the penalties resulted in minimal fines and suspensions of one game.

Balanza hardly saw any action at Magnolia and returns to Northport, his team from 2021 to 2023.