With Navarro acquisition, Magnolia future-proofs roster
Magnolia coach Chito Victolero on Tuesday described dealing veteran Calvin Abueva to NorthPort as “one of the toughest decisions we’ve had to make.”
“He’s been an integral part of our team for the last four years—not just through his performance on the court, but also with his energy and dedication. We all know that Calvin’s energy is like no other,” Victolero said in a statement that came after the Hotshots got rising star William Navarro in return.
“That said, we also have to think about the future of the team,” added Victolero after the team also shipped Jerrick Balanza and a second-round draft in the 51st season to not only acquire Navarro, but also make Magnolia’s title chances better in the PBA Philippine Cup with a younger core.
Known for his versatility in terms of scoring from inside and out, plus a capable defender and rebounder, the 28-year-old Navarro is seen as someone who can bolster a Magnolia squad currently leading the all-Filipino tournament at 7-1 record and still the only one that has already secured a quarterfinals berth.
Navarro’s arrival comes at a time when the Hotshots have already put a balance on having longtime Hotshots Mark Barroca, Paul Lee and Ian Sangalang play important minutes while giving breaks to the likes of Zavier Lucero and backcourt rookie combo of Jerom Lastimosa and Peter Alfaro.
Lucero has emerged as arguably Magnolia’s best player. He is set for a reprisal of a short-lived team-up with Navarro after playing a few games for NorthPort late last season before being traded in the offseason in a deal for longtime Magnolia guard Jio Jalalon.
“Bringing in a young, up-and-coming talent like Navarro is a step we believe we need to pull off to strengthen our team and keep us competitive moving forward,” said Victolero.
Numbers also backed Navarro’s potential importance to Magnolia. Amid NorthPort’s 1-6 record, he’s put up 20.6 points and 10.6 rebounds, both within the top five of both categories. His play for the Batang Pier, including the Cinderella semifinal run in the Commissioner’s Cup, was something the Hotshots couldn’t pass.
