With great players comes great responsibility — and Nxled head coach Ettore Guidetti knows the spotlight is firmly on his newly revamped squad ahead of the 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
The Chameleons made the biggest splash in the offseason by signing the core players of Petro Gazz, which recently took a leave of absence. The additions are headlined by three-time league MVP Brooke Van Sickle and two-time Finals MVP MJ Phillips.
Bringing in the nucleus of a championship squad comes with high expectations. Italian coach Ettore Guidetti said it is his responsibility to blend the veteran Angels with Nxled’s young talents — and mold them into a serious contender.
“Yeah, sure, it’s a big responsibility, and we all know that,” Guidetti told reporters on Thursday.
“Our goal is to keep moving forward, to bring this team — both the new players and the returning squad — to the top of the rankings. We aim to play in the finals and to have as many finals appearances as possible in the coming years. So yes, I know it’s a big responsibility,” he continued.
“Maybe some crazy Italian guys have to take it,” Guidetti added with a smile.
Alongside Van Sickle and Phillips, Nxled also secured the services of former Petro Gazz players Myla Pablo, Jules Tolentino, Bang Pineda, Jonah Sabete, Ranya Musa, Djanel Cheng, Nicole Tiamzon, Jellie Tempiatura, and AA Adolfo.
The squad will also be strengthened by Aby Maraño, Joyme Cagande, and Aduke Ogunsanya.
Guidetti called it a blessing to have these battle-tested veterans on board, praising them as humble, coachable, and ready to lead by example.
“First of all, for me, it’s a blessing, and I’m super grateful for this opportunity. Thanks to the girls for joining us. We knew Nxled is a family-type team, and we are very happy to find players who value the same,” Guidetti said.
“Yes, they are veterans and champions of the last two conferences, but what struck me is how eager they are to improve, how humble and open-minded they are. It’s incredibly easy to coach players like this, and now I understand why they’ve been so successful in their careers,” he added.
The coach noted that the new recruits have been blending seamlessly with the team, quickly adapting despite logging only three practices so far.
However, Guidetti acknowledged that time is short, and the squad will need to work intensively to reach peak form for the all-local conference, where they hope to make a strong statement.
“They are adapting well and even having fun, which is very important for my system,” he said.
“The idea is simple: we don’t have much time. The only way for the team to gel is to connect my system — the Nxled way — with the Petro way. We share a lot in common, but some adjustments are needed. I believe we have enough time to build the systems properly,” Guidetti added.
He also highlighted how the quality of practices has improved since the arrival of the new players, noting that their presence has elevated the performance of Nxled’s young talents, including Lyann De Guzman, Mayang Nuique, and Lucille Almonte.
“Immediately, I noticed improvements in just three days because the younger players were learning by example. We are all visual learners, so seeing the right technique makes it easier to reproduce,” Guidetti explained.
“When you have players like them demonstrating perfect technique in game-like situations, it’s a huge help for our young athletes. Even the power of their spikes has already increased because they’re now practicing against high-level standards. It’s been a big boost,” he added.
The pieces are in place, the practices are intense, and the expectations are sky-high. Now, it’s up to Guidetti and his mix of veterans and young stars to turn promise into performance — and prove that this Nxled team is built to contend.
#WATCH: BLESSING 🏐
Ettore Guidetti says having Petro Gazz’s core will only lead to good things for Nxled#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/rdVAZW1vGJ
📹@jonashdcd /Tiebreaker Times#PVL2026 pic.twitter.com/JSb5ABzypS
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) January 15, 2026
