Creamline rookie Nica Celis. PVL Media Bureau
MANILA — Rookie Nica Celis has put in the hard work for Creamline — and it didn't go unnoticed.
American reinforcement Courtney Schwan gave Celis her flowers as the 2025 PVL Draft second-rounder provided quality minutes for Creamline on Tuesday, helping the squad take Sets 3 and 4 and chipped in five points in their 23-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-17 victory over Chery Tiggo EV in the 2025 Reinforced Conference at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Schwan said that during training, Celis is just "focused" on the things that will make her better, adding that she's happy the young middle blocker had a "good game."
READ: PVL: Creamline secures Top 3 in Pool B after overcoming Chery Tiggo
"Every day in practice she’s very focused on getting better, she’s very diligent, and you can tell that she’s focused on the things she needs to do better," said Schwan on Celis. "I’m very happy for her that she had a really good game after all the hard work she’s put in."
For Celis, she's just eager to prove her worth by performing.
She also acknowledged the expectations she had to embrace as she joined the PVL's winningest club.
Creamline captain Alyssa Valdez hugs Nica Celis. PVL Media Bureau
"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 said.
"Honestly, hindi ko masyadong naisip ‘yun kasi parang for me, I have to work. I know kung gaano ka-big ‘yung team na napasukan ko," she added.
"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."
Creamline has secured Top 3 in Pool B after the win, and will face the bottom teams from the other pool in the next round.