There was no sense of animosity as both squads, as usual, exchanged nothing but pleasantries during the pre-finals press conference a few days ago.

Tim Cone greeted close pal Chot Reyes. Calvin Oftana playfully hugged Scottie Thompson. 

Highly touted imports Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Justin Brownlee hurled praises at each other.

It was calm before the storm, with both squads preparing for a long, arduous battle where the lights are the brightest, the cheers are the loudest, and pressure the greatest.

Barangay Ginebra and TNT begin their PBA Season 49 Finals showdown at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Sunday, Oct. 27.

Tip-off of the clash is at 7:30 p.m. with the Kings and the Tropang Giga eager to assert their might and immediately set the tone for the series.

With both teams preventing their respective semifinals series from going the distance – TNT dispatching Rain or Shine in five games and Ginebra sending San Miguel packing in six – they both have at least a week break to recuperate and prepare, making them both locked and loaded for the clash.

"I think the week off that we've had, I think it's been good for us and for TNT.  We're gonna be refreshed, we're gonna have extra time to prepare and that should lift the level of the play of the players once the series starts," said Cone who expects a tough assignment ahead with both squads parading their star-studded rosters led by prolific imports Justin Brownlee and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.

"I think that's a really good development having this break, having this time to recover. I think we're gonna see a real high level of basketball when the final starts," he added.

While there's much talk about the looming chess match at the sidelines between Cone and Reyes, both multi-titled coaches agreed that the players will have the full hand on the outcome of the series.

"In the end, magkakatalo ‘yan sa how the players execute and the team that is able to exert their own style of play on the basketball court," said Reyes who will be banking on his old reliables in Jayson Castro, RR Pogoy and Kelly Williams along with Calvin Oftana, Poy Erram and Finals first timer Rey Nambatac.

“It’s going to come down to Rondae and Justin, and the players around them. They are going to the one who will decide the series. And that’s how it should be," echoed Cone.

"It’s a lot of fun watching Rondae play. His style of play is really fun to watch, and watching Justin in our system is going to be fun for them,” added the grand slam coach who, on the other hand, will have Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar and Maverick Ahanmisi along with Finals debutants Stephen Holt and rookie RJ Abarrientos.

While the outcome of the series opener won't entirely dictate the outcome of the Finals – evident in their last Governors' Cup title clash where the Kings drew first blood but the Tropang Giga came out victorious – there is still the emphasis on both squads needing to make the statements on their first game.

Regardless of who will come out victorious in Game 1, one thing's certain for Cone, it will be a showdown that the fans will enjoy, especially that the earnings of the series opener will be donated to the victims of tropical storm Kristine.

"I just think it’s really a match made in heaven. The fans will have a great time watching the series,” added Cone.