By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
After launching its rebuild with five key acquisitions, Nxled added five more players on Wednesday, further building momentum behind a revamped Chameleons squad ahead of the 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
The Chameleons bolstered their roster with liberos Bang Pineda and Jellie Tempiatura, opposite hitter AA Adolfo, outside hitter Nicole Tiamzon, and setter Joyme Cagande, bringing their total haul to nine as they continue reshaping the team less than three weeks before the all-local tilt.
The group joins the first wave of signings — playmaker Djanel Cheng, winger Jonah Sabete, and middle blockers Ranya Musa, Aduke Ogunsanya, and Aby Maraño — forming a core of experienced veterans expected to stabilize the lineup and set the tone for the new season.
Left without a team following Petro Gazz’s decision to take a leave of absence, Pineda, Tempiatura, Adolfo, and Tiamzon will reunite with fellow former Angels Musa, Sabete, and Cheng, bringing championship pedigree and established chemistry to Nxled’s fold.
At 34, Pineda played a pivotal role in Petro Gazz’s recent Reinforced Conference title run, steering the team out of a slow start en route to the championship, while Tempiatura, Tiamzon, and Adolfo provided key contributions off the bench.
Meanwhile, Cagande, once a highly touted setter out of National University, gets a fresh start with the Chameleons after struggling to carve out consistent minutes during her two-year stint with Chery Tiggo. With its influx of reinforcements, Nxled is aiming for a breakthrough campaign in the upcoming PVL All-Filipino Conference, hoping to reach the semifinals for the first time since joining the league in 2023.
