NXLED capitalizes on league shake-up, banks on veteran signings for 2026 All-Filipino Conference 

NXLED’s long rebuild just took a sharp and deliberate turn.

Rather than easing into another developmental year, the Chameleons made a loud statement ahead of the 2026 PVL season by stacking their roster with proven veterans—players shaped by championships, franchise resets, and the pressure of winning now.

The first wave features a familiar Petro Gazz core in Jonah Sabete, Djanel Cheng, and Ranya Musa, all finding new footing after the Angels elected to take a leave of absence from the league. But this wasn’t merely a landing spot for displaced talent. It was a calculated acquisition of players who know how to finish seasons on top.

Joining them are two of the most battle-tested names in Philippine volleyball: former Chery Tiggo captain Aby Maraño and longtime Choco Mucho scorer Aduke Ogunsanya. With their arrival, Nxled suddenly looks less like a rebuilding franchise and more like a team fast-tracking itself into relevance.

the Petro Gazz trio had long been expected to surface in Nxled colors after entering free agency. Their arrival now serves as the foundation of a larger, still-unfolding plan. 

More former Angels are expected to follow, as the remnants of the aborted merger quietly reshape themselves into a single, competitive identity in training.

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TYANG TURNS GREEN

Veteran Aby Maraño brings her talent and leadership to Nxled Chameleons as she joins the neon squad ahead of the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference, following Chery Tiggo’s exit from the league.#PVL2026 #TheHeartofVolleyball pic.twitter.com/JtQL89qOGC

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) January 13, 2026

SHIFTING COLORS

From blazing red to neon green, opposite hitter Jonah Sabete brings her attacking skills to the Nxled Chameleons for the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference.#PVL2026 #TheHeartofVolleyball pic.twitter.com/DVANwTEt8g

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) January 13, 2026

For Cheng, the move carries historical weight. She was there when Petro Gazz entered the PVL in 2018 and remained a constant through every championship run the Angels ever claimed. Sabete and Musa, though later additions, were integral pieces of the club’s final two title conquests in 2025—experience Nxled has sorely lacked in crunch moments.

Maraño’s path to the Chameleons, meanwhile, feels almost symbolic of this roster’s theme: resilience through upheaval. After enduring consecutive team disbandments with F2 Logistics and Chery Tiggo, one of the country’s most decorated middle blockers finds herself resetting yet again. This time, she hopes the restart leads not just to survival—but stability.

Ogunsanya adds another layer of intrigue. Injuries slowed her during her three-year run with Choco Mucho, but a healthy return could unlock flashes of the dominant scorer who once thrived at La Salle and helped anchor championship-caliber teams.

Individually, these signings tell stories of transition. Collectively, they hint at something more ambitious.

Nxled is no longer content with gradual growth. By surrounding itself with winners who have already endured league turbulence, title pressure, and abrupt endings, the Chameleons are signaling that 2026 isn’t just about rebuilding—it’s about redefining who they are, and how quickly they intend to matter. 

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