MANILA, Philippines—There was no way that Romeo Travis was going to drive to Bulacan on Friday to play a Game 7

Travis made sure that the Hotshots' 2018 PBA Governors' Cup finals against the Alaska Aces ended on Wednesday at Ynares Center in Antipolo, as he set the tone for what turned out to be a 102-86 rout in Game 6 of the best-of-7 series.

Travis scored five points in a 12-0 Magnolia run to open the first quarter, then wound up netting 15 points in the opening frame alone. He finished with 32 points, 17 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals, another masterful performance by him in a conference that has been full of them.

"I mean, we just didn't wanna play a Game 7. I know I didn't wanna play a Game 7. I wanna go home. I wanna be home for Christmas," Travis said after they wrapped up the series, 4-2. A Game 7, if necessary, would have been played at Philippine Arena in Bulacan on Friday.

"I didn't wanna drive two hours, I just wanted to finish it now, and we all had that mindset. We just came out, we played aggressive, we played together, and we got a win."

The fast start to the game was crucial, because Travis knew that Alaska would struggle to catch up once Magnolia built a big lead early.

"Alaska is the type of team that if you start of hot, and you stay on top of them, they have problems scoring. They score in bunches, but if you get on top of them early, I don't think they have the scoring power to come back from a lead like that," he said.

He was proven right. Alaska managed to trim the deficit to seven points in the second quarter, but the Aces were never able to get over the hump. The Hotshots were never in danger in the second half, leading by as many as 20 points.

The title was a culmination of what Travis acknowledged has been an "up and down" playoffs. The Hotshots had to dethrone two-time defending champion Barangay Ginebra in an emotional semifinal series just to reach the title series. Travis established his legend in that series, scoring 50 points in Game 4 to tow the Hotshots to victory despite playing with a bum hamstring.

In the finals, he played through a twisted ankle in Game 3 and endured a bloody face in Game 4. But in the end, he walked out of the Ynares Center as a champion.

"A lot of good things happen, but some bad things happened, too," Travis said of his journey in the playoffs.

"In my life, I've noticed that if you stay positive, and you stay upbeat through the bad times, then good things are gonna happen, and that's what I tried to do," he added.

"Just stay positive, stay upbeat through the bad times, and I knew good times where on their way."

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