MAGNOLIA shipped the playing rights of William Navarro to Titan Ultra in exchange for sweet-shooting Arvin Tolentino in a trade that was approved by the PBA Commissioner’s Office on Tuesday.
Included in the two squads’ transactions were the swapping of picks as the Giant Risers acquired the Hotshots’ rights to the Season 52 second round draft pick.
The Hotshots, then received the Giant Risers’ Season 51 second round draft pick also.
Both players however, remain unavailable at the moment.
The 6-foot-7 Navarro started the Korean Basketball League’s 2025-26 season with the Busan KCC Egis, but was released later, after averaging just 5.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 21 games.
The former Ateneo forward is still without a KBL team, but is not expected to return to the PBA because he’s covered by the three-year league ban imposed on players who chose to play in other leagues while having an existing offer with their PBA mother ballclub.
On the other hand, the 30-year-old Tolentino had a solid first season with his KBL team since signing with the SK Knights in May 2025.
The former Gilas wingman averaged 12.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game for the Seoul quintet and went on to win KBL All Stars Most Valuable Player award.
The 6-foot-5 Tolentino shot 38.5 percent from three-point country and could easily provide the scoring sock for the Hotshots, that is, if he could secure a release from the SK Knights.-
Meanwhile, Magnolia is bringing in former University of Alambana in Birmingham forward KJ Buffen as its import for the coming PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup set to open July 10.
