CHICAGO — The salary was exceedingly generous, $20,000 a month guaranteed for one year, sources in Korea told me.
With such rare opportunity to earn that kind of life-altering sum of money, Will Navarro left the PBA for the Korea Basketball League (KBL) last August.
Doing otherwise would have been fiscally irresponsible considering that he was the head of small but growing family, a wife and a then two-year-old boy.
COLUMN: Oftana douses social media fire over 'goodbye' post
At Magnolia, where he had a brief interlude following a trade from NorthPort, Navarro was reportedly making the max salary of P420,000 a month plus bonuses tied to the team’s playoffs success.
In other words, the decision to go overseas was a no-brainer.
RISK AND REWARD.
Unfortunately for the two-time UAAP champion out of Ateneo, his stint with the Busan KCC Egis turned out to be one and done.
After averaging 5.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per in 21 games, the Fil-Greek was released by the team at the culmination of their 2026 KBL title run.
For some reason, the 6-foot-6. 201-lb Navarro didn’t get much opportunity to showcase his versatility.
And so the hoops journey of the 29-year old pauses until the next destination is determined.
“Looking for other opportunities,” Navarro’s agent, PJ Pilares, told me on Sunday night.
BANNED.
The Japan B.League is possible, so is the MPBL.
Sadly, the PBA isn’t an option.
Just like former Ginebra star Jamie Malonzo, Will is covered by a three-year ban for committing the “crime” of leaving the PBA for greener pastures.
As we revisit this rule, it reminds us of how petty, selfish and stupid it really is.
While global basketball continues to demolish borders, the PBA is still putting up fences.
If the PBA doesn’t want veterans to leave and draftees to play elsewhere,
it needs to start paying better wages.
Other than the slighted egos of some members of the PBA board, what’s the harm in bringjng Malonzo and Navarro back into the league?
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