It has been strange redemption tour for Romeo Travis.
The 6-foot-5 forward earned another shot to bag a PBA championship, as his Magnolia Hotshots have qualified in the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals. But standing in his way are the Alaska Aces, his former team.
Travis had his maiden campaign in the Filipino pro league with the Milkmen back in 2015, in the very same conference. He had himself a solid campaign, and even earned the Best Import honors.
But his campaign ended incomplete. He and the Aces failed to win the title after they were swept by the San Miguel Beermen in four games.
It seems odd for Travis to try to win the crown at the expense of his former team. But the American-Macedonian cager made it known that it doesn’t matter to him.
“I really don’t feel anything about it. I’m just happy to be in the Finals,” said Travis on Tuesday afternoon in the Finals press conference at Sambokojin in Eastwood, Quezon City. “It just happens to be against the team that I played for.
“I have no hard feelings against the team or any good feelings, you know.”
The 33-year-old – who was LeBron James’ teammate in St. Vincent-St. Mary – also pointed out another thing that doesn’t matter to him: being pitted against Alaska’s Mike Harris not just in the titular bout, but in the Best Import race as well.
“I’ve won the Best Import and we lost the championship. And I got on the plane more upset than I would have been, if I would have not won the Best Import and lost the championship. So, to me, I really, honestly don’t care about the award,” Travis said.
“I just want to win the championship.”
For the 11-year journeyman, this upcoming best-of-seven Finals series is not just on him alone. The series would be better with both protagonists in the spotlight, rather than individual characters.
“I want individuals to do well on the team. But as far as me having some particular feelings one way or the other, that doesn’t matter to me,” he said.
“We’re gonna have to beat somebody to win a championship, and it just happens to be them. I’m happy for these guys. I’m happy for everybody because I know them personally. But other than that, I really don’t have any feelings one way or the other.”
