Creamline Cool Smashers’ pick Nica Celis and Sheena Toring during the PVL Rookie Draft. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Going into the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft, Creamine coach Sherwin Meneses was focused on one thing—fortify his middle blocker roster.
And he got a good haul using the 12th overall pick on his National University cog Sheena Toring and then selecting Nica Celis from University of the Philippines (UP) in the second round.
“Middles will be very important for us in the PVL On Tour,” Meneses said in Filipino referring to the new preseason initiative by the league. “It’s better to have more players than less and I think that these middles deserve to go to Creamline.”
The Cool Smashers also currently have manpower woes at the net with Bea de Leon still in recovery from an injury and Pangs Panaga on national team duty as part of the Alas Pilipinas pool.
“Celis is very athletic [which] is very important in Creamline so that you can play various positions,” Meneses said.
Creamline Cool Smashers coach Sherwin Meneses. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRERnet
Celis didn’t get too much playing time with the Fighting Maroons during her collegiate stint, so it was a welcome surprise for her named to be called by the 10-time champions. “
When I heard my name, it felt unreal because it was never in my mind that I would go to their team so it’s still such an honor to be there,” said the visibly overwhelmed former UP skipper.
Aside from the pieces he got in the in the rookie proceedings, word is that the Grand Slam champions are getting the services of ex-ZUS Coffee blocker Mich Gamit.
There are also other spots that would need filling, such as the opposite spiker role with decorated hitter Tots Carlos also nursing an injury, and this is where Celis could come in handy.
“It’s exciting because I’m gonna be surrounded by really great players … I see this as an opportunity to grow,” she said. “Just the thought of it is really thrilling to the point that I can say ‘let’s immediately go to training right now.’”
“I just don’t know how to explain this feeling that I have right now, but overall it’s just pure bliss,” Celis added. “I don’t want to promise anything, I’d rather you just watch because I really am striving to make a difference now.”
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