PBA has approved a trade involving NorthPort’s William Navarro and Magnolia Hotshots’ Calvin Abueva and Jerrick Balanza. –PBA

Magnolia acquired versatile forward William Navarro from Magnolia in exchange for veteran Calvin Abueva in a trade that could shore up the Hotshots’ title bid in the PBA Philippine Cup.

The PBA approved on Tuesday the deal which also sends Jerrick Balanza and the Hotshots’ second round draft pick in the league’s 51st season in order to secure the services of Navarro.

READ: PBA: Magnolia books quarters, tops skidding NorthPort

It was the second time Magnolia was able to acquire young talent from NorthPort after getting Zavier Lucero in the offseason.

Rumors of Navarro possibly getting dealt had been swirling for months, even after the Batang Pier made it all the way to the semifinals of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

NorthPort Batang Pier’s William Navarro during a PBA Commissioner’s Cup 2025. –MARLO CUETO/INQIUIRER.net

But reports came out earlier in the day that the two teams were able to come to terms, but needed the go-signal of the league to get the deal done.

Navarro was drafted 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 an aborted move to play in the Korean Basketball League.

READ: PBA: William Navarro confident he can deliver with more minute

But an ACL injury sidelined the Ateneo product for more than a year and made his return in the 2024 Philippine Cup. While NorthPort’s entry to this season’s Commissioner’s Cup was mainly due to Arvin Tolentino, Navarro served as one of the backbones to the Batang Pier’s success.

In the ongoing Philippine Cup, Navarro is averaging 20.6 points, fourth among players and 10.6 rebounds which is ranked third, but NorthPort has slumped to a 1-6 record.

Magnolia Hotshots’ Calvin Abueva with coach Chito Victolero during the PBA’s 50th anniversary game at Rizal Memorial Coliseum. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER

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

Abueva ends his four-year stay with Magnolia that began in the 2021 Philippine Cup when he was Best Player of the Conference for leading the Hotshots to the Finals. NorthPort will be Abueva’s fourth team in his pro career that also had stops with Alaska and Phoenix.

Magnolia got Abueva from Phoenix after a successful on-court return in the 2020 Philippine Cup bubble following a 16-month suspension due to repeated misbehavior.

While there have been incidents when Abueva got into trouble, the penalties resulted in minimal fines and one-game suspensions.

Balanza hardly got to see some action at Magnolia and will return to NorthPort, his team from 2021 to 2023.