PVL vetoes Petro Gazz–Nxled merger, forcing both clubs into a race against time

The Premier Volleyball League has taken a firm stance that reshapes one of the most controversial storylines of the offseason, officially shutting the door on any merger between Petro Gazz and Nxled as the league barrels toward the 2026 season opener.

PVL chairman Tony Boy Liao made it clear that the league will not allow a setup that effectively combines two franchises into one competitive unit, outlining strict conditions that now redefine the options available to both camps.

According to Liao, the league’s framework leaves no room for compromise: only one team may continue to exist under the proposed setup, and any club that opts to fold forfeits the right to funnel its remaining players to a sister team.

“As per my discussion with [PVL president] Ricky Palou, with the planned merger, definitely one team should only remain, whether it’s Nxled or Petro Gazz,” Liao said.

“For the players whose team will disband, the players will all become free agents. All the other teams will be allowed to sign them in.”

That ruling effectively dismantles the central premise of the proposed union, which many rival teams viewed as an attempt to preserve competitive balance internally while sidestepping normal player movement rules. Instead, the league has chosen a path that prioritizes parity—opening the door for all PVL teams to pursue any players left without a club.

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The PVL has blocked the Petro Gazz-NXLED merger. If Petro Gazz disbands, its players must become automatic free agents, free to negotiate with any club expressing interest.

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The PVL also ruled out an immediate dispersal draft, a mechanism sometimes used in similar situations to redistribute talent.

“Not for the moment. It will be the liberty of the players, being free agents, to sign with teams of their choice,” Liao said, though he left the possibility open for future cases.

Time, however, is quickly becoming the biggest enemy. With the 2026 All-Filipino Conference scheduled to tip off on January 31—roughly three weeks away—the ripple effects of the decision are already being felt. As of writing, six Nxled players and five Petro Gazz mainstays have exited their respective teams, and more departures are widely expected as uncertainty lingers.

Liao also addressed a contingency that could come into play should Nxled struggle to assemble a viable roster in time: a temporary leave of absence. While technically allowed, it comes with heavy consequences.

“Yes, they can [take a leave of absence], but they’ll have a very hard time to return,” Liao said.

With the merger effectively dead, both Petro Gazz and Nxled are now navigating a compressed, high-stakes offseason where every decision carries long-term implications—not just for their rosters, but for their very place in the league.

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