The PBA world was turned upside down on Wednesday with the league-leading Magnolia Hotshots and the free-falling NorthPort Batang Pier consummating a deal that could likely swing the Philippine Cup championship pendulum to one team.
Said trade saw the Hotshots packaging Calvin Abueva, Jerrick Balanza, and a second round pick in the 2025 PBA Draft for rising star and former Gilas Pilipinas member William Navarro. The trade was officially approved by the PBA Commissioner’s Office already and has been posted on the league’s Transactions page, which means the deal if final and binding—and there’s not a thing any team or fans for that matter can do about it.
Incidentally, the trade happened after William Navarro had 27 points and 13 rebounds in NorthPort’s loss to Magnolia on Saturday.
William Navarro Makes Magnolia a True Contender
The Hotshots went 7-1 before the trade, and they’ve been nothing short but dominant this Philippine Cup with their prolific offense and stingy defense. Through eight games, the Pambansang Manok are second in the entire league in offense, posting 107.5 points a game, and fifth in defense, holding down opponents to 93.9 for a staggering 13.6 differential.
Needless to say, Magnolia has established itself as among the contenders this conference, with Abueva helping out in his own little way as the team’s Energizer bunny—a role he has been playing to perfection practically his entire career. In a little over 16 minutes a game, the 37-year-old forward was giving the Hotshots 8.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists a game on 49% and has been a reliable contributor off the bench.
Now, with the trade, Magnolia basically switched out Abueva for a player averaging 20.6 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.1 steal, and 0.6 block on 53% shooting from the field.
That means the Hotshots are adding a 20-10 guy in William Navarro to an already prolific offense and a typically stingy, swarming defense. Navarro, at 6-foot-6 also gives Magnolia lots of flexibility both ways. For one, he can play the frontline with 6-foot-7 Zavier Lucero for a long, rangy, athletic frontcourt that can put up points in a variety of ways and cover plenty of ground defensively. He can also play the 4 alternately with Lucero in small-ball configurations or even slide down to the 2 for ultra-big lineups.
Regardless of how Chito Victolero uses Navarro, what’s certain is that William Navarro is an upgrade—and, really, upgrade is an understatement—over Abueva straight up and even with Balanza, and the draft pick thrown into the mix.
Calvin Abueva Solves None of NorthPort’s Problems
The Batang Pier trending in the right direction just a couple of months ago. But now, they’re sinking back to mediocrity—and they’re sinking fast. Unfortunately, even The Beast being unleashed might not reverse that free fall. NorthPort coach Bonnie Tan will likely give Abueva every chance to prove he could be a difference-maker once more.
But at 37, it seems highly unlikely that Abueva will replicate Navarro’s production—at least not to the same consistency as the 28-year-old was doing. The Beast will probably have a 20-10 here and there and hike his averages to about 15 and 8, but it’s hard to see him being an impact player the way Navarro has been for NorthPort.
Balanza, who will reunite with Tan at NorthPort, could theoretically be a wild card as his reunion with the coach who helped him win an NCAA title might spark a career renaissance. Then again, it’s hard to see someone averaging 2.0 points a game this conference making a big difference for a woebegone franchise that fans are derisively dismissing as a farm team.
Grading the Trade
Magnolia no doubt gets an A for acquiring one of the best young wings in local hoops win William Navarro. He’s a proven 20-10 guy who is archetype of the modern forward—tall, rangy, athletic, and skilled. NorthPort, on the other hand, nets a C– for getting bit parts and a 37-year-old veteran known as much for his unpredictability and volatility as he is for his energy and fearless play.
