WHEN Nica Celis emerged as one of two Creamline draft picks earlier this year, she described it as a ‘moment of pure bliss.’
Knowing that many eyes would be cast on her as part of the PVL’s most successful franchise, Celis made a resounding remark when asked by SPIN.ph back in draft night on what fans and her new team can expect from her.
“I don't want to promise anything, I'd rather you just watch,” Celis said in June moments after getting picked 23rd overall by the Cool Smashers.
Three months removed from a career-defining night, the former University of the Philippines captain put up a five-point game that may seem like a meager output on paper, but weighed much more than that when Creamline pulled away late in its 23-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-17 win over Chery Tiggo EV on Tuesday.
With extended minutes to her name, the 24-year-old Cebuano middle blocker seized every second of that game with a chip on her shoulder.
State U’s ‘Wonder Woman’ might not have had as many heroic moments as she would’ve wanted, but turning the page in her career as a pro with the Cool Smashers also gives her a shot to let her renewed game do the talking and prove she has much more to contribute for the always-championship contenders.
“Coming from college to here, for me, I felt like I had a lot to work on and I had a lot to prove pa,” she told SPIN.ph.
“Alam mo ‘yung parang I’m in cloud nine na sobrang calm ko and at the same time, very happy. I can’t explain, basta I’m very happy lalo na’t hindi ko alam na napapansin pala ng teammates ko ‘yung hardwork na ginagawa ko sa training.”
'Utak at Puso,' always
Rather than rue a rather dismal college career - results-wise - with the Fighting Maroons, Celis had a glass half-full approach and even credited her alma mater for arming her with the mental fortitude to overcome adversity.
“I had that mindset na I had a lot to prove. Alam ko ‘yung pinasok ko and alam ko ‘yung built ng team namin kaya I know na I really, really have to work,” Celis said.
“Hinubog ako ng UP na maging matibay and to keep on working hard. I didn’t know that all of those struggles and all of that hard work would lead to this. It’s a start. I can’t be too satisfied, so I have to keep on working kasi start pa lang ‘to.”
It sure was a noteworthy start for Celis to get her motor running in the pros the way she did against the Crossovers, giving a glimpse to the yet-untapped potential she has.
READ: Sherwin Meneses explains Creamline's 'mix and match' rotation
But as far as how she wants the course of her Creamline career to be remembered, Celis went back to the first few words she spoke as a newly-drafted pro player — less talk, more work, and let her story write itself.
“I never thought about that, but again, I feel like I’ll use my line again na ‘you just have to watch me.’ That’s all,” she said with a cheeky grin.
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