LOYALTY SWAP | MAKE OR BREAK TIME FOR AVAN NAVA

JM Calma has been traded to the San Miguel Beermen, and honestly, it’s not as bad as some might think. The only real concern is that he’s joining a powerhouse team while coming off an ACL injury. However, he should still find playing time, especially if he adjusts his combo forward game to lean more toward the power forward role.

Back in his NCAA days with the San Sebastian Golden Stags, Calma was dubbed "Giannis Anteto-Calma" and put up solid numbers—8.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game—before his injury. At 6'6" and just 27 years old, he still has plenty of upside. If San Miguel chooses to invest in his development, they could get at least three good seasons out of him.

Right now, the Beermen are relatively thin in the frontcourt. Beyond June Mar Fajardo, they have Mo Tautuaa, Andreas Cahilig, and Rodney Brondial. Cahilig isn’t a natural big man, but he has to fill that role due to their lack of depth. While San Miguel will likely continue to lean heavily on June Mar, they still need someone to play the role Arwind Santos once had in Leo Austria’s "Death Five" lineup.

That’s why trading Avan Nava to NorthPort—along with what is likely their 2025 second-round pick (Season 50)—makes sense. Nava, a former KBL player, was stuck on the SMB bench under Jorge Gallent, simply because the team was overloaded with shooting guards and small forwards. It made little sense to develop him when their priority is maximizing the last prime years of June Mar.

In the Philippine Cup, NorthPort will likely use Will Navarro at center with Arvin Tolentino sliding to power forward. Fran Yu, Evan Nelle, and possibly Jio Jalalon will handle most of the guard duties, while Joshua Munzon has the size to play small forward. This setup makes Nava a valuable addition to the Batang Pier, where he can thrive in a SG/SF rotation alongside Allyn Bulanadi and Paolo Taha. With Cade Flores, Damie Cuntapay, Sidney Onwubere, Abu Tratter, and Agem Miranda supporting the frontline, Nava finally has a real chance to prove himself.

This trade is more about what Nava can do with NorthPort rather than another “farm team” move by San Miguel. If even Jeron Teng struggled for minutes with SMB, Nava had no reason to expect better. But now that he’s on a team that can give him opportunities, it’s time to show the PBA what he’s made of.

Yes, many top college stars head to the KBL or B.League to gain leverage before returning to the PBA, but some end up flopping despite the hype. Playing in the Far East leagues might fatten a player’s wallet, but it can also expose them as busts. Nava was never a high-volume scorer like Thirdy Ravena, Ethan Alvano, SJ Belangel, or RJ Abarrientos—perhaps due to limited minutes with the Seoul Samsung Thunders—but now he has a shot at changing that narrative.

As for the second-round pick, if it is indeed San Miguel’s 2025 (S50) selection, NorthPort can use it to bolster their roster. Even if it’s a mid-to-late pick, they’ve had success with past third-rounders. In a way, they’re reclaiming a draft asset they originally lost when they facilitated the trade involving Arvin Tolentino and Jamie Malonzo.

While this trade might not make headlines, it benefits both teams. San Miguel gets a potential contributor in Calma, while NorthPort gains a player who actually fits their system—along with a draft pick to further strengthen their lineup.