MAGNOLIA traded hardworking but temperamental veteran forward Calvin Abueva, backup guard Jerrick Balanza, and a second-round Draft pick in the pro league’s 51st season for NorthPort rising star William Navarro just before the playoffs of the season-ending meet.
Ginebra got the chance to size up the potential upgrade that Navarro will bring to the Hotshots in the PBA Philippine Cup iteration of the “Manila Clasico” last Sunday night.
Kings coach Tim Cone, who has a penchant for players like the 6-foot-6 former Ateneo and San Beda University standout—tall, long, and versatile—is convinced Navarro can only make Magnolia better.
“We know Will Navarro really well because we played him in a series when he was with Northport last conference. So, we know Will’s ability and his skill level,” Cone said. “I wasn’t really that surprised. We know how they were going to use him. They’re still trying to search that out, I think.
“I think they’re trying to figure out where he fits. That’s basically what you do when you bring somebody in who’s really talented. It’s hard to figure out exactly where he fits right away because you want to use all of his skills,” he added.
But a crushing 81-85 loss to Ginebra proved to be a dampener to what was otherwise a good Hotshots debut for Navarro, who finished with five points and four rebounds in only a little over 16 minutes of play.
The No. 2 pick overall by the Batang Pier in the special Gilas Pilipinas Draft in 2020, Navarro is averaging 20.57 points, 10.57 rebounds, 1.86 assists and 1.14 steals this conference for NorthPort before the trade.
While their foes made a big move in their bid to end a seven-year title drought, Cone said Magnolia should be a different crew once Navarro makes the needed adjustment.
As for his Kings, why fix something that isn’t broken?
“I think they’ll figure it out and they’re going to be better with it, no doubt,” he said. “But I like our group. I like our continuity and I’ll measure our team up with anybody. Like Stephen (Holt) said, on any given night, we feel we can beat anybody.
“So, you know, it’s really just trying to figure out a way to bring you’re A-game every night. It’s not easy, but if you can, we have a chance to beat anybody.”
Trades are a double-edged sword—you win some, you lose some, and the jury is still out on the Hotshots and Batang Pier.
