WILMA Salas deemed it an ‘easy decision’ to forego a third stint with Petro Gazz and jump ship instead.
Once she received a rather unlikely call at the conclusion of her European league duties, it all fell into place from then onwards.
“I finished my season in Italy. Coach, PLDT called me and [asked] ‘Wilma, okay, are you free, are you ready?’
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Salas added: “[I said], ‘I’m ready, I go to you, I go to Philippines.’ It’s an easy decision.”
The 34-year-old Cuban import had two tours of duty with Petro Gazz in the PVL.
In 2019, then-best import Salas and the late American captain-slash-spiker Janisa Johnson steered the Angels to their first franchise championship against the Cool Smashers.
Five years later, her Petro Gazz comeback ended in a dismal quarterfinals exit to Creamline in the 2024 Reinforced Conference single-game knockout playoffs.
As such, Salas’ surprise decision to join PLDT was a personal choice even after holding brief talks for a potential Petro Gazz return.
“Yes, I talked [to Petro Gazz] but I made my decision and I came here.”
No second thoughts
Apart from playing for a new team and wearing a new shade of red, there hasn’t been much of a difference for Salas as she posted a 10-point, 15-dig double-double straight away in her PLDT debut - a 25-19, 25-12, 25-12 sweep of Queensland Pirates in the 2025 AVC Women's Champions League.
The only difference, if any, is that she now carries the three stars and a sun on her chest.
“The difference is like, nothing. It’s only about the coach, different coach, different approach, go more [in practice and games],” Salas said.
“The coach is a good person, the girls are good persons. I think it’s like the same.”
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