Nica Celis has never been one to seek the spotlight, but within the Creamline Cool Smashers’ tightly knit roster, her quiet dedication has not gone unnoticed.
During the 2025 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference, the University of the Philippines alumna has seen limited playing time, yet her relentless work in training has made a strong impression on her veteran teammates — including American import Courtney Schwan.
Schwan, who has been one of Creamline’s most consistent performers this conference, spoke highly of Celis’ diligence and focus behind the scenes.
“Every day in practice, she’s extremely focused on improving and very diligent,” Schwan said after Creamline’s four-set victory over Chery Tiggo EV on Tuesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre. “You can see that she’s concentrating on the areas she needs to work on. I’m really happy for her that she had such a strong performance after all the hard work she’s put in.”
Celis’ perseverance finally paid off in that match. Coming off the bench to replace Michelle Gamit in the third set, the 24-year-old middle blocker immediately made her presence felt. She tallied five points across two sets, but more than the numbers, her energy and timing on both offense and defense provided a spark that helped the Cool Smashers pull off a 23-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-17 win over the Crossovers.
Her effort was a reflection of what Creamline has long prided itself on — a culture of preparation, accountability, and trust. For Celis, earning the confidence of her coaches and teammates made her breakthrough performance even more meaningful.
“Ang gaan sa feeling na nakatulong ako sa team kasi I’ve been trying to find ways kung paano ako makatulong. And of course, sobrang grateful ako sa guidance ng mga Ates, sa lahat ng teammates sa loob ng court, and siyempre grateful ako sa tiwala na binigay ni coach,” Celis shared.
“Honestly, I don’t know pero ang gaan sa feeling. I didn’t expect any of this. For me, trabaho lang talaga. I just have to focus on performing. Magaan sa pakiramdam,” she added.
Celis’ humility mirrors her steady approach — one grounded in hard work rather than instant results. She knows that playing for the league’s winningest club comes with immense expectations, and she embraces the challenge with maturity beyond her years.
“Honestly, hindi ko masyadong naisip ‘yun kasi parang for me, I have to work,” she said. “I know kung gaano ka-big ‘yung team na napasukan ko, I know the work that I have to put, I know I still have to keep working. So ‘yun lang pa rin mentality ko ngayon na I can’t be too happy with how I’m performing, kasi I know I have to do more.”
