Returning import Wilma Salas expects nothing less than a championship with the Petro Gazz Angels, dedicating the upcoming 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference to her former teammate Janisa Johnson.
Cuban spiker Wilma Salas is set to make her return for the Petro Gazz Angels in the upcoming 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference.
It’s been five years since Salas last stepped foot in the PVL. During that time, the 35-year-old power spiker has been busy with her stints in Europe, most recently for the Aeroitalia SMI Roma Volley in Italy.
“I feel so happy [to be back]. I feel excited because this conference, in my mind, I feel this every time but now it's possible because I stayed in my other team in Europe, [but] now it's possible to come for another conference here. Finally, I am here, so I'm very happy for this,” Salas told One Sports.
The 2019 Best Import will join the Angels once again ahead of their three-peat quest in the Reinforced Conference. Five years ago, Salas led Petro Gazz to a three-game conquest of Creamline to win the Reinforced Conference.
In 2024, Salas will join the revamped Petro Gazz team, now led by Japanese coach Koji Tsuzurabara, alongside veteran players Remy Palma, Aiza Pontillas, Myla Pablo, MJ Phillips, and the All-Filipino Conference MVP Brooke Van Sickle.
Having already won a championship in 2019, the 6-foot-2 powerhouse expects the same in her return bid in the PVL.
“[The] expectation is for sure to take first place the same like in 2019. For sure, I will do my power for the game to take this first place,” said Salas.
“My first [goal] for the team is to take this championship again in Petro Gazz. For my team, for Petro Gazz, because I feel like family, so this is the expectation,” she added.
For the 2019 campaign, Salas was joined by the late Janisa Johnson in Petro Gazz’s title run.
After hearing the news about her passing, Salas admitted being “heartbroken” and plans to dedicate the upcoming Reinforced Conference to her former teammate.
“This news about Janisa destroyed totally my heart,” said Salas.
“I remember in 2019, we played together, we eat together and, in this moment, when I knew about the news, totally broken. This conference is for Janisa. This conference is dedicated to Janisa,” she emphasized.