Grandfather of actress and model, wins Gold at World Masters Games 2025
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Player Profile Series: Djanel Cheng’s rise as a champion setter
Djanel Cheng, born on August 28, 1994, is a Filipino volleyball player serving as a setter for the Petro Gazz Angels in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).
Known for her smart playmaking and steady leadership on the court, Cheng has built a steady career across multiple local volleyball leagues. She is the sister of fellow volleyball player Desiree Cheng.
Cheng began her collegiate volleyball career at De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde (CSB), where she played a key role in leading the Lady Blazers to their historic first NCAA women’s volleyball championship in Season 91.
DJANEL CHENG
NAME: Djanel Welch Tanlo Cheng
DATE OF BIRTH: August 28, 1994
SCHOOL: De La Salle College of Saint Benilde
POSITION: Setter
HEIGHT: 170 CM
SOCIAL MEDIA: @welchcheng
Individual Award
Best Setter, NCAA Season 89 (2014)
Collegiate Achievement
Champion, NCAA Season 91 (2016)
De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde
Club Achievements
With Shopinas.com Lady Clickers
Runner-up, 2015 PSL All-Filipino Conference
With F2 Logistics Cargo Movers
Third Place, 2016 PSL Grand Prix Conference
With Petro Gazz Angels
Champion, 2019 PVL Reinforced Conference
Runner-up, 2019 PVL Open Conference
Runner-up, 2022 PVL Open Conference
Champion, 2022 PVL Reinforced Conference
Runner-up, 2023 PVL All-Filipino Conference
Champion, 2024 PNVF Champions League
Champion, 2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference
Professionally, Cheng has played for several clubs throughout her career, including the Shopinas.com Lady Clickers (2015–2016), Cignal HD Spikers (2016), F2 Logistics Cargo Movers (2016), and Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors (2017–2018, 2020–2022).
She first joined the Petro Gazz Angels in 2018 and helped the team win the PVL Reinforced Conference title in 2019. After a brief stint with Sta. Lucia, she returned to Petro Gazz in 2022, reuniting with key teammates from their previous title runs.
Cheng is recognized for her consistent setting skills and has been a vital piece in Petro Gazz’s recent campaigns. She often shares court duties with veteran setter Chie Saet and is instrumental in orchestrating the team’s offense.
Throughout her career, Cheng has earned several accolades and helped her teams reach podium finishes in various tournaments. Individually, she was named Best Setter in NCAA Season 89.
With her clubs, she has achieved the following:
A runner-up finish with Shopinas.com Lady Clickers in the 2015 PSL All-Filipino Conference.
A third-place finish with F2 Logistics in the 2016 PSL Grand Prix.
A championship and a runner-up finish with Petro Gazz in the 2019 PVL Reinforced and Open Conferences, respectively.
Another runner-up finish in the 2022 PVL Open Conference.
A championship win in the 2022 PVL Reinforced Conference.
A runner-up finish in the 2023 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
A championship title in the 2024 PNVF Champions League.
Her most recent accolade is winning the 2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference title with the Petro Gazz Angels, where they dethroned the reigning champions, Creamline Cool Smashers, in a stunning championship run.
