William Navarro to Magnolia, Calvin Abueva to NorthPort in blockbuster PBA trade

Three days after battling them in Candon, William Navarro is joining Magnolia in time for a crucial "Manila Clasico" against Ginebra. PBA Images (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Just a few hours after an earthquake jolted Southern Luzon, the PBA shook up the basketball community by announcing the approval of the William Navarro-Calvin Abueva trade.

Navarro, who had become NorthPort's vital weapon this PBA Philippine Cup, especially amid the absence of Arvin Tolentino, is moving to Magnolia in exchange for Abueva, who remains an energizer for any team he ends up at, even at age 37.

The Hotshots are also sending Jerrick Balanza and their second-round pick for the PBA Season 51 Draft in 2026 to the Batang Pier to sweeten up the pot.

This will be Balanza's second stint with NorthPort as he played for the team from 2020-2022.

At Magnolia, Navarro reunites with Zav Lucero, who joined the Purefoods franchise in an earlier trade with NorthPort.

The Navarro-Abueva-Balanza trade was consummated a few days after both the Hotshots and Batang Pier collided at the Candon City Arena, effectively making the said match-up the last game for the three players involved with their old teams.

Navarro's first game with the Hotshots could happen right at a crucial "Manila Clasico" against Barangay Ginebra on Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, with a chance to seal a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals on the line.

Abueva, on the other hand, will make his debut as a Batang Pier two nights earlier, also at "The Big Dome" against the TNT Tropang 5G, as NorthPort looks to win four straight games in hopes of keeping its quarterfinal hopes alive.

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