ARVIN Tolentino's signing rights are now with the Magnolia Hotshots after the PBA Commissioner's Office approved on Tuesday a trade that had the rights to William Navarro going to the Titan Ultra Giant Risers.
The deal, which also included a swap of second-round picks, was first reported by SPIN.ph on Monday.
SOURCES SAY Magnolia trading Navarro's PBA rights to Titan for Arvin's
Under the terms of the deal that was announced in the PBA website, Magnolia acquired the rights to the 6-foot-5 Tolentino as well as its own second-round pick next season which went to NorthPort (now Titan Ultra) in the Calvin Abueva trade.
On the other hand, the trade marks a homecoming of sorts for Navarro, who NorthPort traded to Magnolia before the sale of the Batang Pier franchise to Titan Ultra.
The Giant Risers also get the Hotshots' Season 52 second-round pick in the deal.
However, the deal comes with a caveat. Both players are unlikely to be available to play in the PBA in the foreseeable future.
Tolentino is currently under contract with the Seoul SK Knights and the Korea Basketball League side is unlikely willing to let go of the 30-year old after his impressive first season with the team.
In contrast, Navarro was released by Busan KCC Egis after a subpar debut season in the KBL that saw him average 5.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 21 games while sitting out most of the team's games in the playoffs.
Although unsigned at the moment, the former Gilas Pilipinas mainstay - unlike Tolentino - is covered by the three-year PBA ban on players who signed with teams in other leagues while having an existing offer with their PBA mother team.
Between the two, Tolentino looks to have a better chance at making a return to the PBA if Magnolia and the former FEU Tamaraws star can get him out of the KBL contract.
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