Palou says no way will PVL allow reported merger of Petro Gazz, Nxled
Premier Volleyball League president Ricky Palou said that he will not allow the possibility of a reported “joint venture” between Petro Gazz and Nxled, citing as a simple reason that “it won’t be fair.”
Talk has been loud that Petro Gazz, despite winning two titles in 2025 with its maiden All-Filipino Crown last May and a third Reinforced championship last November, will merge with Nxled, which has been waving some of its players lately.
Palou said that should the Angels disband, all players will be listed as free agents, eligible to negotiate with any team that they want.
“I’m trying to get a meeting with them, with Petro Gazz and find out what’s really happening,” Palou told the Inquirer over the phone on Wednesday. “Because if you’re not going to join, you should declare and disband the team for the players to become free agents.
“That’s what I’m waiting for (from) them,” Palou went on. “I have to sit down with them and ask for their final decision. Hopefully, we’ll be able to sit down with them before the week is out.”
No official word
Both teams have yet to release an official statement about the matter, but Petro Gazz already bid farewell to its players like Chie Saet and Remy Palma, who signed with Strong Group Athletics, as well as Joy Dacoron and BLove Barbon.
Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, as bared to the Inquirer, is already a free agent.
A source privy to the situation revealed that the plan was to keep the Angels’ core of three-time conference MVP Brooke Van Sickle and two-time Finals MVP MJ Phillips, who will then team up with Nxled under Italian coach Ettore Guidetti.
The 2026 season opens at the end of the month with the All-Filipino Conference.
“They want to merge. But we said they can’t merge because it will be unfair to the other clubs,” Palou said. “It’s not good if one team is owned by two different entities.”
Should Petro Gazz bid farewell, the league will be down to 10 teams following Chery Tiggo’s disbandment.
But life goes on for the PVL with at least two companies interested in joining, pending a check of their financial capabilities being done by the league itself.
“If we have to start with 10 teams, it’s okay,” said Palou. “There are interested companies, but we’re still investigating and finding out. Because we don’t want teams who only try to play one conference, then they are out. We’re verifying all of this. We want to guarantee that they will stay for more than at least five years.”
Signing spree
Capital1 and Strong Group Athletics went on a signing spree, with the Solar Spikers inking eight players in the Chery Tiggo trio Jasmine Nabor, Shaya Adorador and Pauline Gaston, former Choco Mucho ace Cherry Nunag, Akari’s Ezra Madrigal, Nxled libero Rachel Jorvina and Galeries standouts Ysa Jimenez and France Ronquillo to build around top overall pick Bella Belen.
SGA secured the commitment of Mylene Paat from the defunct Crossovers. The former PVL MVP will play for either Farm Fresh or ZUS Coffee, while Choco Mucho signed Eya Laure, Caitlin Viray, Alina Bicar and Jaila Atienza at the start of the year.
“If all the club teams increase their strengths, it’s good for the league,” Palou said. “Everybody is beefing up their lineups to become stronger. It’s good for the competition. More interesting also to the fans and the viewers.”
