Similar to 2019, Wilma Salas will look to lead the Petro Gazz Angels past the Creamline Cool Smashers in their quarterfinals bout in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference.
Wilma Salas and the Petro Gazz Angels are one step closer to their championship aspirations in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference, but standing in their way are their perennial rivals, the Creamline Cool Smashers.
The powerhouse squads will battle it out in the knockout quarterfinals on Tuesday, August 27 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
In a win-or-go home situation, Salas is ready to give it her all to lead the Angels past their longtime rivals, who they defeated earlier in the conference.
“For sure, this game with Creamline, many people are waiting for this game, so it’s difficult. But we go to the court for everything until now. We play good, we have more confidence with players. I think this is [an] important point. Go to the game [to] fight,” Salas said during the post-game press conference.
This won’t be the first time that Salas and the Angels will face off against the Cool Smashers in a crucial bout.
In the 2019 PVL Reinforced Conference, Petro Gazz defeated Creamline in the finals with the late Janisa Johnson taking home the Finals MVP.
Salas likewise bagged the Best Import Award during their title run.
Dedicating their campaign to Johnson all conference long, Salas is heading to the quarterfinals, hoping to deliver another win for Petro Gazz and Janisa.
“For me, it's more than special, because I say this conference is dedicated to Janisa,” said Salas. “Sometimes, I feel this, I feel Janisa in the core. I feel Janisa's support [for] the team. So, for sure, the core is winning for Janisa.”
[ALSO READ: Petro Gazz import Wilma Salas dedicates 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference to late Janisa Johnson]
Salas acknowledged that a lot has changed since their title run in 2019. But as she found her form once more, the 33-year-old Cuban spiker is ready to go all out against the Cool Smashers.
“I think in 2019, we had [another] good import [in Janisa. But I think this year, we have better imports, so I think this is the difference until now. For this, I think it's more difficult for you [to] win. So, if you win, you have, of course, this good in your hand,” said Salas.
“I feel the difference with my body, with my performance. And for sure, I can improve more in every game. So, this last final game, for sure, I will improve more,” she added.