Will Navarro leaves Magnolia to play for Busan KCC Egis in KBL

Will Navarro is ending his short stay at Magnolia in the PBA to play for the Busan KCC Egis in the upcoming season of the Korean Basketball League (KBL).

The club announced Navarro's signing on Tuesday as the versatile forward marked the end of an almost three-month stint with the Hotshots, who acquired him in a trade for Calvin Abueva, Jerrick Balanza, and a future draft pick to NorthPort last May. 

"William Navarro is a new player in KCC Egis! We ask for lots of support and encouragement to William Navarro, who is making a new start at KCC Egis," the club said in an Instagram post. 

 

 

 

 

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The transfer marks the realization of Navarro’s dream to play abroad.

Back in 2022, Navarro was set on suiting up for Seoul Samsung in KBL, but was not cleared due to an existing live contract with Gilas Pilipinas at the time. 

Navarro focused on his mother league, NorthPort, where he would lead the team alongside the core led by Cade Flores, Joshua Munzon, Evan Nelle, Fran Yu, and Sidney Onwubere, before his recent trade to Magnolia.

In his short stay with Magnolia, Navarro helped the squad rack up eight wins against three losses to book one of the four twice-to-beat bonuses in the quarterfinals. The Hotshots, though, lost twice to TNT to bow out of contention.

Magnolia recently named LA Tenorio as its new head coach.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News