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  • Nxled turns Cignal fallout into major roster rebuild with Gel Cayuna, Jackie Acuña signings 

    Nxled turns Cignal fallout into major roster rebuild with Gel Cayuna, Jackie Acuña signings 

    Nxled Chameleons is wasting little time capitalizing on the sudden shake-up caused by Cignal’s leave of absence.

     

    What initially looked like a league-wide scramble for available talent is quickly turning into a calculated roster rebuild for the Chameleons, who added two more prized names from the former Super Spikers core after officially acquiring veteran setter Gel Cayuna and middle blocker Jackie Acuña on Saturday.

     

    The pair became the latest former Cignal standouts to secure new teams following the franchise’s surprising exit from the PVL, joining former MVPs Vanie Gandler and Erika Santos at Capital1, while Erin Pangilinan found a new home with Creamline.

     

    For Nxled, however, the signings feel less like simple replacements and more like another major step toward accelerating the franchise’s rise.

     

    Cayuna immediately gives the Chameleons one of the league’s most experienced and decorated setters. Long regarded as one of the PVL’s top floor generals, she carries five Best Setter awards, including the recognition she captured during the 2026 All-Filipino Conference.

     

    Acuña, meanwhile, adds another growing presence at the net after steadily emerging as one of the league’s reliable middle blockers. The former National University standout previously won Best Middle Blocker honors during the 2024 Invitational Conference and continues to establish herself as one of the more valuable frontcourt players in the market.

     

    What makes the duo’s arrival even more fitting is how similar their journeys have been.

     

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    Neither Cayuna nor Acuña entered the professional ranks carrying overwhelming hype. Cayuna developed into an elite setter after coming out of Far Eastern University, while Acuña gradually built her reputation following her collegiate stint at National University.

     

    Years later, both unexpectedly became two of the most sought-after names available following Cignal’s withdrawal.

     

    Now they join an Nxled squad that already carries a strong Petro Gazz influence, headlined by three-time MVP Brooke Van Sickle alongside fellow former Angels stars Myla Pablo and MJ Phillips under Italian coach Ettore Guidetti.

     

    With every new signing, the Chameleons continue transforming from a developing franchise into one of the more intriguing teams entering the PVL’s next chapter.

     

    At the same time, the rapid movement of former Cignal stars across the league continues reshaping the competitive landscape — and Nxled may have quietly positioned itself as one of the biggest winners from the offseason chaos.

     

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  • Santos, Acuna, Gandler share emotional messages after Cignal’s withdrawal from PVL

    Santos, Acuna, Gandler share emotional messages after Cignal’s withdrawal from PVL

    Just as the Cignal Super Spikers appeared to be entering a new era following a breakthrough campaign, the franchise abruptly halted its momentum after announcing a leave of absence from the 2026 Premier Volleyball League.

     

    The decision comes only days after the Super Spikers completed a historic run to the Finals of the PVL 2026 All-Filipino Conference—the deepest postseason finish in franchise history. What was expected to be a springboard for sustained contention instead turned into an unexpected offseason development that immediately reshapes the league landscape and raises questions about the team’s long-term direction.

     

    In an official statement, the club confirmed the move was made after internal deliberations on its organizational direction.

     

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    “This is to officially announce that the Cignal Super Spikers – Women’s Volleyball Team has filed a Leave of Absence in the Premier Volleyball League. This difficult decision was taken under careful review of Cignal’s strategic direction,” the team said.

     

    No timetable has been provided for a possible return, leaving uncertainty surrounding both the players and coaching staff, as well as the competitive balance of a league that had just concluded one of its most closely contested seasons in recent memory.

     

    With Cignal stepping away, attention quickly shifts to the future of its roster. In the absence of a formal dispersal draft system in the PVL, rival teams are expected to aggressively pursue key talents in what could become a highly competitive free-agent market.

     

    Among the most coveted names is reigning All-Filipino Conference MVP Vanie Gandler, alongside standout contributors Erika Santos and Gel Cayuna, all of whom are expected to attract significant interest from clubs looking to strengthen their rosters ahead of the next PVL conference.

     

    Despite the uncertainty, several Cignal standouts took time to address the media, reflecting on their tenure with the franchise and expressing gratitude to management, teammates, and supporters.

    Santos spoke candidly about the emotional difficulty of the announcement while acknowledging her smooth transition into the team environment.

     

    “Hindi pa talaga nagsi-sink. Nasa stage pa ako na nagpo-process so siguro. Thankful ako kasi naipakita ko ‘yung true self ko sa kanila. Hindi ako nahirapang mag-adjust and ‘yung transition from my past team, tapos sila agad ‘yung nakasama ko. Sobrang okay sa feeling na mag-work ka and at the same time, may family ka and sisters. Sobrang thankful ako sa Cignal,” Santos said.

     

    Middle blocker Jackie Acuna also expressed deep appreciation for the opportunity provided by the franchise, crediting Cignal for giving her a platform despite limited collegiate exposure.

     

    “Sobrang grateful ako sa Cignal dahil nagbukas sila ng pinto kahit na hindi masyadong malaki ‘yung background ko ng college at ‘di ako masyadong nakapaglaro. Sila, sumugal sila kahit potential lang ‘yung dala ko. Magiging forever grateful ako sa Cignal,” Acuna added.

     

    Meanwhile, Gandler reflected on her growth within the program, highlighting the team-first culture that helped shape her into the league’s Most Valuable Player.

     

    “The best thing for me is them, the teammates that I met. They helped me become a better version of myself because everyone really had one goal. We wanted to grow, and we knew that to grow, we needed to be collaborative. It’s not really a competition, and we have to work together,” Gandler stated.

     

    Team captain Dawn Catindig, who joined Cignal following the disbandment of her former club F2 Logistics Cargo Movers in 2023, described the franchise as a second home while acknowledging the difficulty of moving forward.

     

    “For me naman na medyo matagal na sa pros, very important sa’kin ‘yung team culture sa susunod kong pupuntahan. I’m taking my time in my decision kasi ang hirap pa rin maka-move on kasi very fresh pa rin kaya I’m just taking my time,” Catindig stated.

     

    “We never expected that kind of news. Kahit na may rumors, very hopeful pa rin kami. But at the end of the day, it was a business decision, and we respect that. Alam naman namin na pinaglaban kami ng Cignal, and we have to go on our own ways,” she added.

     

    Before potentially fielding offers from other PVL clubs, the Cignal players are set to reunite one final time in competition at the 2026 Volleyball All-Star Showcase. Santos, Catindig, and Gandler will suit up for Team Heart, while Acuna will represent Team Hustle in what could serve as a symbolic final chapter of their time together under the Cignal banner.

     

     

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