Magnolia Hotshots forward William Navarro will finally be able to play in the Korean Basketball League after signing with Busan KCC Egis.
In a social media post, the team announced his transfer and asked for support for Navarro's new career. The former Ateneo standout had long planned to play in Korea. In 2022, he signed with the Seoul Samsung Thunders but it fell through because he had an agreement with Gilas Pilipinas and the PBA that prohibited him from playing abroad.
Navarro, who stands 6'6" tall and is 28 years old, first played for the NorthPort Batang Pier after being selected as the second overall pick in the Gilas Special Draft. He was later traded to the Magnolia Hotshots in exchange for Calvin Abueva, Jerrick Balanza, and a second-round pick in the upcoming draft. With NorthPort, Navarro excelled by averaging ₱20.6 points, ₱10.6 rebounds, 1.96 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
At Magnolia, he was part of the team's rise to the third seed in the Season 49 Philippine Cup. However, they lost to TNT Tropang 5G in the quarterfinals — which was his last game for the Hotshots.
Now, Magnolia will face the challenge of losing Navarro, along with the loss of Abueva and Balanza, both of whom provide character and strength to the team.
