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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Volleyball devider Chameleons bold rebuild headlines a wild All-Filipino Conference

Chameleons bold rebuild headlines a wild All-Filipino Conference

Published Jan 26, 2026 12:39 pm  |  Updated Jan 26, 2026 04:10 pm

At A Glance

  • But with the surprising leave of absence taken by reigning champion Petro Gazz, the landscape has shifted – and Nxled moved quickly to take advantage.
From left, MJ Phillips, Brooke Van Sickle and Myla Pablo form the core of the revamped Nxled squad. (PVL Images)
From left, MJ Phillips, Brooke Van Sickle and Myla Pablo form the core of the revamped Nxled squad. (PVL Images)
By CHRISTAN SALVAÑA, Intern
After a dismal 2025 campaign, the Nxled Chameleons’ sweeping offseason rebuild has reshaped expectations ahead of the 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference opening this weekend in San Juan.
Placing near last in both the All-Filipino and Reinforced Conferences, the 2024-25 season was one to forget for the Chameleons.
But with the surprising leave of absence taken by reigning champion Petro Gazz, the landscape has shifted – and Nxled moved quickly to take advantage.
The Akari-owned squad wasted no time acquiring stars that made headlines across the league, transforming a once-struggling team into a championship contender almost overnight.
Headlining the overhaul are three-time league MVP Brooke Van Sickle, two-time MVP Myla Pablo and two-time Finals MVP MJ Phillips. Nxled also reunited several former Petro Gazz Angels including Jules Tolentino, Jonah Sabete, Djanel Cheng, Nicole Tiamzon, Bang Pineda, Ranya Musa, AA Adolfo and Jellie Tempiatura.
The Chameleons further reinforced their lineup with the additions of middle blockers Aduke Ogunsanya and Aby Maraño along with Joyme Cagande to provide balance across all positions.
Despite the additions, it is worth noting that these veterans are meant to complement – rather than replace – a promising homegrown core led by Lyann De Guzman, Chiara Permentilla, Krich Macaslang, Mayang Nuique, Lucille Almone, EJ Laure, and Jovelyn Fernandez.
Italian head coach Ettore Guidetti, now in his 32nd professional year, understands the challenge of molding elite talent into collective success.
“The only way for the team to play together is to use my ideas and connect, as simply as possible, the Nxled way to play with the Petro way to play,” said Guidetti.
“We have a lot of things in common and some things to change. I think there is enough time, so we’re going to start building the system,” he added.
On paper, Nxled looks like a championship-level threat, but how quickly the pieces come together under the league’s new format remains the key question.
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