Philippine Cup leaders Magnolia Hotshots shake things up, dealing Calvin Abueva and Jerrick Balanza to the NorthPort Batang Pier for Will Navarro.
Calvin Abueva’s four-year stay in Magnolia has come to an end.
This is after the Hotshots dealt the veteran forward to the NorthPort Batang Pier for rising star Will Navarro.
Jerrick Balanza was also part of the deal, alongside the Magnolia second-round pick for PBA Season 51.
The PBA announced the shocking trade on Tuesday, May 27, as the league-leading Hotshots continue to build for their future by adding another young star, now adding Navarro to a youthful core that already has Zavier Lucero and Jerom Lastimosa.
Abueva was shipped to the Hotshots from Phoenix in a trade that also involved Chris Banchero back in 2021. In the Philippine Cup of the same year, Calvin won Best Player of the Conference as Magnolia made the Finals, albeit losing to TNT in five games.
In letting go of Abueva, Magnolia gets a young stud in Navarro, the Batang Pier’s pick in the 2021 Gilas Draft.
Navarro has been the lone bright spot for NorthPort this conference, currently norming 20.6 points and 10.6 rebounds despite the team stumbling to 1-6 start.
Meanwhile, Magnolia picked Balanza as the 10th overall pick in the 2020 Draft.