Nxled continues free agent haul, adds 5 more players
Nxled continued to make the most out of teams folding up, making five more bold acquisitions to bolster its chances in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League.
After signing five key players from two clubs that closed shop in the offseason, the Chameleons took in liberos Bang Pineda and Jellie Tempiatura, opposite hitter AA Adolfo, outside hitter Nicole Tiamzon and setter Joyme Cagande, bringing their total haul to ten as they continue reshaping the team less than three weeks before the All-Filipino Conference.
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.
Pivotal role
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 All-Filipino Conference, hoping to reach the semifinals for the first time since joining the league in 2023.
