Nxled looks to continue its ascent in the Premier Volleyball League with the acquisition of Spain national team standout Paola Martinez Vela as its import for the 2025 Reinforced Conference, the team announced on Saturday night.
The Chameleons will parade the 6-foot Martinez alongside super rookie Lyann De Guzman and EJ Laure, forming a formidable wing trio under Italian head coach Ettore Guidetti for the upcoming tournament.
Martinez, a 27-year-old opposite spiker, last played for Dinamo București in Romania and KS Pałac Bydgoszcz in Poland. Over the course of her career, she has suited up for top clubs in Spain, Romania, Poland, Belgium, Italy, and Cyprus.
“Welcome to the Nxled Chameleons, Paola Martinez Vela! A member of the Spain National Team and a standout opposite hitter, she has played for top clubs across Spain, Romania, Poland, Belgium, Italy, and Cyprus,” the team said in a Facebook post.
“Now, she’s bringing her international firepower to shine with the Chameleons,” the team added.
Nxled will be banking on Martinez’s international experience to complement its youthful core, with the Spanish hitter expected to provide scoring punch and veteran poise in high-pressure situations.
The move comes after a turbulent 2024 Reinforced Conference campaign where the Chameleons struggled to find footing, finishing in 10th place.
They faced an early dilemma with Chinese import Jiang Xuanyao before ultimately settling with American spiker Meegan Hart for the rest of the conference.
Now with Martinez joining forces with De Guzman and Laure, the Chameleons aim to make a deeper run after showing flashes of promise in the PVL On Tour, where they tallied a 4-1 record in Pool A before bowing out in the quarterfinals.
