Providing.
A word deserving to be etched onto her name.
Whether it be on the taraflex where she has spent most of her life, in classrooms or at home, she finds fulfillment where she provides.
And these places are witness of how Nica Celis of UP Women’s Volleyball Team (WVT) became the wonder woman she is now.
Life before UP
Prior to setting foot in Diliman, Nica was just a tall freshman from Southernside Montessori School (SMS) in Muntinlupa.
“I was pretty tall. It was my insecurity before ‘yung height ko, so why not put it to good use?” shared the 5-foot-8 middle blocker in an interview with Tinig ng Plaridel.
“Hindi ko [in]akalang aabot ako ng ganito kalayo in terms of my sport,” she added.
But volleyball is deeply ingrained in the Celis household, influencing her to attend tryouts in SMS when she was in her first year of high school.
This was when she realized how being a student athlete can open up opportunities to earn scholarships, easing her family’s financial burden. Helping her family motivated her to work harder than ever.
“My mom had heart problems [at] that time and we really needed financial support. And parang I wanted to be less of a burden para hindi nila problemahin ‘yung school ko,” said Nica. “I think that’s my main inspiration. I play for my parents kasi they believe in me the most.”
The young Nica took a leap of faith and stepped into the state university after catching the eye of former UP WVT head coach Godfrey Okumu during a walk-in tryout in 2019.
Here, she was guided by former UP volleyball stars Tots Carlos and Isa Molde, learning not just the technical aspects of the game but also the mental toughness required to thrive at the collegiate level.
The Iska life
But the UP life, of course, is filled with challenges. Balancing both aspects of her life as a student-athlete remains a struggle.
“Kailangan lagi ko na che-check ‘yung Google Classroom ko, ‘yung emails ko. Kasi maiwanan ko lang yun for a day or two, magugulat na lang ako mga anim na yung gawain na matitira doon.” said Nica.
Despite her demanding schedule, she remains committed to both her academics and her sport to further set an example to her teammates.
“So, I make it a habit to always check ‘yun para wala akong nakakaligtaan. Ayoko kasing nag-iipon ng gawain sa huli,” she added, reflecting on how she manages her academic duties during the ongoing season.
Although she initially wanted to take psychology in college, the physical education major could not help but thank her current course as it helps her in playing and recovery.
And when the demands of school and sports become overwhelming, Nica finds solace in historical romantic K-dramas and anime, allowing herself a mental escape from the pressures of being a student-athlete.
“‘Pag sobrang tuliro na ako, makikita niyo na lang ako sa Acad Oval. Naglalakad ako […] tapos [listening to] music while walking.”
Captain on duty
This season brought a wave of changes to the squad—a new coach, a fresh batch of rookies, and an entirely revamped system.
Being a veteran and the team captain, Nica ensures that she sets an example for the Fighting Maroons, who currently sits at a 5-5 record after dealing the top-seeded National University their first loss of the season and repeating their opening day win against the University of the East.
“Especially in training, lalo na for my teammates who are going through a lot, who are, you know, still new to the system and everything. You just have to constantly remind them why they’re here [and] what their goals are,” said Celis.
Despite the load of new faces, the team captain is grateful for the young bloods for their relentless work ethic and easygoing nature, which continued the welcoming Fighting Maroon culture.
But as a leader, Nica makes sure to challenge them to reach their full potential, pushing them to improve—just as she was once pushed when she first set foot in UP.
“Once in a while, parang kailangan lang talaga ng reminder or push. As much as possible, gusto ko yung pinaka-role ko is I’m someone who pushes you,” said the State U skipper. “Even if at some point, maiinis ka sa akin kasi may tendency akong when you’re not playing your best, I’ll provoke you kasi I know that’s not your best yet.”
With Round 2 of the UAAP season underway, Nica hopes to find greater consistency in her performance and leadership to help the squad go back into the Final Four stage for the first time since 2016.
But most especially, she strives to remain committed to upholding the essence of being a student-athlete, a daughter and a leader.
