After a dramatic offseason overhaul that brought in the Petro Gazz Angels' championship core, the Nxled Chameleons head into the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference as an immediate title contender.
Nxled will enter the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference as one of the most intriguing teams in the field.
After finishing at the bottom of the standings in last year’s All-Filipino Conference, the Chameleons completely flipped the script in the offseason, absorbing the bulk of the Petro Gazz Angels roster that captured the same title just a year ago.
With a radically different Chameleons squad built on proven winners, the question now is whether or not they can replicate that success in the 2026 All-Filipino.
A season that needed a reset
- All-Filipino Conference: 12th place
- PVL On Tour: 5th place
- Reinforced Conference: 11th place
While Nxled showed flashes of competitiveness during the On Tour, the team failed to sustain a winning momentum across major conferences.
Depth issues, closing problems, and inconsistency pushed the Chameleons toward a more aggressive solution.
Minimal changes, familiar structure
Key addition: Jonah Sabete, Aby Marano, Djanel Cheng, Aduke Ogunsanya, Ranya Musa, Nicole Tiamzon, Jellie Tempiatura, Bang Pineda, Joyme Cagande, AA Adolfo, Jules Tolentino, Myla Pablo, MJ Phillips, Brooke Van Sickle
Key departure: Jaja Maraguinot, Rachel Jorvina, Lycha Ebon, Maji Mangulabnan, Jaila Atienza
Nxled suddenly found itself with a golden ticket to title contention, following Petro Gazz’s planned merger with the franchise.
And while the proposal was rejected, the Angels’ championship core decided to stick together to sign with the Chameleons.
Can they replicate their success?
Unlike most rebuilt teams, Nxled will not start from zero.
Van Sickle, Pablo, and Phillips will ultimately lead the way once more under head coach Ettore Guidetti. The Chameleons will also have Permentilla, Sabete, De Guzman, Musa, and Marano to provide additional firepower and leadership.
[ALSO READ: PVL: Van Sickle, Pablo, Phillips embrace fresh start in major Nxled rebuild]
The expectation is that Nxled should be viewed as an immediate contender. The challenge, however, is whether that success can be replicated in a tougher All-Filipino field, with rival teams also making significant upgrades.
From gamble to championship?
A lot can truly change within a span of a few months.
What was initially seen as another rebuilding year, the Chameleons will now suddenly vie for the All-Filipino title.
[ALSO READ: PVL: Ettore Guidetti embraces pressure as huge Nxled haul reshapes expectations]
The pieces are in place, but expectations now come with pressure—but if there’s any squad capable of replicating their success, it’s the now reinforced Nxled core.
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.