Trade rumors surrounding the NorthPort Batang Pier are nothing new, but a recent episode of the No Cooking Show podcast hosted by Snow Badua may have added more fuel to the fire—and this time, it’s not just speculation. It’s a peek into a possible strategy.
According to Snow, he heard that NorthPort may intentionally struggle in their initial games of the conference. The reason? To justify trading away key players without attracting too much criticism. It's a tactic that—if true—hints at a calculated approach from the franchise. “Narinig ko, NorthPort will lose their early games para may reason sila to make moves,” Snow revealed.
The names being floated? Promising young forwards Cade Flores and Will Navarro.
Both players have been bright spots in NorthPort’s lineup—Flores with his rebounding and hustle, and Navarro with his versatility and two-way potential. Moving either one would undoubtedly shake up the roster, especially for a team that’s been rebuilding (or perhaps retooling) for several seasons now. These two have shown flashes of being foundational pieces, not just trade assets.
While NorthPort has long been at the center of countless trade rumors, very few materialize. The only significant move in recent months was JM Calma being sent to powerhouse San Miguel—an eyebrow-raising deal in itself, but not nearly the roster overhaul some have anticipated.
If the Flores or Navarro rumors come true, it would mark a turning point. These aren’t just rotation pieces—they're future stars. And if traded, fans can only hope that they land in situations where their talents will continue to flourish.
Snow’s revelation brings up a broader issue, though. If a team is allegedly planning to underperform just to justify future trades, it raises concerns not just about competitiveness, but also about transparency and integrity. PBA fans deserve to see teams playing to win—not tanking to trade.
Still, it’s worth emphasizing that this remains unconfirmed. And in the world of PBA trade rumors, especially involving NorthPort, we’ve learned to take everything with a grain of salt until it’s official.
But if and when these trades happen, the biggest hope is simple: that young talents like Cade Flores and Will Navarro will be fine—not just in terms of their careers, but in how they are developed, appreciated, and given the chance to grow into the stars they are clearly capable of becoming.
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