Feeling that she has already completed her chapter with University of the Philippines, Nica Celis is ready to take the next step in her volleyball career as she enters the 2025 Premier Volleyball League Draft.
Celis played a vital role in UP’s surprising campaign in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament, helping lead the Fighting Maroons to a commendable sixth-place finish.
Serving as team captain, the 5-foot-9 middle blocker guided UP to a 6-8 win-loss record — their best since they matched that mark back in Season 81.
Alongside Celis, the trio of Nina Ytang, Joan Monares, and Irah Jaboneta were instrumental in the Maroons’ impressive run. Meanwhile, rookies like Kianne Olango and Bienne Bansil stepped up when it mattered most.
With talented transferees Casiey Dongallo, Kizzie Madriaga, and Jelai Gajero set to reinforce the squad next season, Celis feels confident that her mission with the team has been fulfilled. She believes she’s leaving the Fighting Maroons in capable hands and is now ready to embrace the next phase of her journey.
“For me kasi, I feel like I already fulfilled my role to UP. I’m not leaving with a heavy heart na parang magulo ‘yung team, hindi pa stable,” said Celis during the first day of the PVL Draft Combine last Friday at the Paco Arena.
“Parang for me, I can leave knowing na my girls can do the rest of the work and ten times better than what I did. So for me, I’m happy with that kasi alam ko next year they’ll be amazing sa UAAP. So I’m happy with that na parang okay, it’s time for me to transition na.”
(C) PVL Images
Celis is among the 60 applicants for the PVL Rookie Draft scheduled on June 8. She enters a deep and competitive pool, particularly among fellow middle blockers all aiming to break into the professional scene.
Now 24 years old, Celis feels determined to give everything she’s got in pursuit of her dream to play in the pros, vowing to embrace any role that a team assigns to her.
“For me, everything. Not in terms of like na parang number one player ako or anything like [that]. For me, I’m all out. If they want me to fulfill this role, I will work day in, day out. I will give you the best quality of what is needed of me,” said Celis.
“Parang I have no problems working extra, extra hard kasi I love working hard. I love my sport. So parang for me, that’s what I can give.”
Celis also carries with her the ‘Giting at Tapang’ spirit that defined her stint with UP — a philosophy rooted in courage, resilience, and relentless effort, which she hopes to embody as she transitions to the PVL.
“Tibay ng puso at utak. Kasi parang no matter where you go, things won’t always favor you and you really, really have to put in the work. So parang ‘yun nga ‘yung sigaw namin ‘di ba, giting at tapang. So that’s something na definitely madadala ko pagdating ko ng pro,” she said.
“Titibay at titibay na matibay na player.”
#WATCH: UP’s Nica Celis says she’s fulfilled her role with the Fighting Maroons and feels confident in those she’s leaving behind — that’s why she’s ready for the #PVLDraft 🏐
📹 @jonashdcd /Tiebreaker Times#UAAPSeason87 pic.twitter.com/FaCNmzLEc8
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) May 30, 2025
