Dec 25, 2018

Travis hopes Alaska wins a championship in near future

ROMEO Travis still has the Alaska Aces in his mind even after finally winning his first ever PBA championship.

The 34-year-old Travis wishes his former team good luck and hopes coach Alex Compton and the franchise will get to win their own title in the near future.

"I really want those guys to really do well and succeed because I do have friends there and I do wish nothing but the best for those guys," said Travis just before leaving back to the U.S. with his family for the holiday season.

Last week, Travis completed his unfinished business three years ago when he steered Magnolia Pambansang Manok to the Governors Cup championship as the Hotshots beat the Aces in their best-of-seven title series, 4-2.

It was the first PBA crown for the former Best Import after coming short in 2015 when he was still playing for Alaska following the San Miguel Beermen's four-game sweep of the finals in this same season-ending conference.

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As he basked in the glory of the Purefoods' franchise first crown in four years, Travis can't help but also think about another frustrating end to the Aces' campaign.

The native of Akron, Ohio, a close friend and high school classmate of NBA superstar LeBron James at St. Vincent-St. Mary, said he has developed a close bonding among several Alaska players during his stint with the team, especially Vic Manuel and Chris Banchero.

"I wished it wasn't Alaska," he said of the finals encounter. "I have a lot of great friends over there especially Chris Banchero, and I really want him to get a championship.

"Unfortunately, it's against us, so we have to do what we have to do."

And that's what exactly Travis did in the title-clinching 102-86 win in Game Six.

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The Magnolia import dropped 32 points, 17 rebounds, and five assists in a stellar performance he capped by going 5-of-11 from three-point range.
Again, Travis said it's just him doing his job and nothing else.

"It would have been easier for me to play against somebody else, and not my old team and not my old coach," said the import. "But you can't decide this things and the cards you have to deal with.

"And so we just have to do what we have to do." (RG)