William Navarro joins KBL’s Busan KCC from Magnolia

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Hwan-yeong, William Navarro.

Following Jamie Malonzo’s move to the Japan B. League, William Navarro has officially joined the overseas basketball exodus, departing the Magnolia Hotshots to sign with Busan KCC in the Korean Basketball League (KBL).

Busan KCC announced Navarro’s signing on August 5, 2025, via social media, ending his five-year stint in the PBA after being drafted in the 2021 PBA Rookie Draft.

Navarro had a brief run with the San Miguel Corp.-backed Magnolia franchise, appearing in just five games for the Chicken Timplados.

He was traded from the NorthPort Batang Pier as Magnolia sought to strengthen its frontcourt and end its PBA championship drought.

However, the move fell short of expectations, as the team still failed to reach the Philippine Cup semifinals despite Navarro’s arrival.

Before joining Magnolia, Navarro was being groomed as NorthPort’s next franchise player, averaging 20.6 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game.

His signing with Busan marks a long-awaited return to the KBL, where he was initially set to debut three years ago.

Navarro was previously lined up to play for the Seoul Samsung Thunders in 2022, but the deal was shelved due to a conflict with Gilas Pilipinas, the men’s national basketball team.

As a result, he stayed in the Philippines and signed with NorthPort, which drafted him second overall.

Navarro made an immediate impact with the Batang Pier, showcasing his scoring ability and standout defense that made him one of the league’s top two-way players.

His departure now leaves a major gap in Magnolia’s swingman rotation — a challenge that new head coach LA Tenorio must address ahead of the next PBA conference.