The curtains are finally raising for what is expected to be another epic duel between TNT and Barangay Ginebra in Game 1 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals at the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday, March 14.

Coming off a week's rest, the Tropang Giga and the Kings are surely raring to lock horns in their third Finals matchup where not only their supremacy is at stake but also their pride and legacy.

Tip off of the clash is at 7:30 p.m. with the spotlight on the import battle between Justin Brownlee and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and the duel of two of the best coaching minds in Ginebra mentor Tim Cone and TNT tactician Chot Reyes.

Close pals, and even shared the same bench at some point in the past, Cone and Reyes are setting their friendship aside as they open another chapter to their coaching rivalry.

“We’re friends, but we also know we’re competitors. And we like to compete,” said Cone, who is looking to add another feather on his cap which already boasts league-best 25 titles.

“And I think, irrespective of the teams we coach, we’ve always had great respect and really come out and compete with each other. It doesn’t change through the years,” he added.

And it’s been a close rivalry between the two coaches. In their head-to-head matchup, Reyes holds a 4-3 record against Cone – a lead he got when the Tropang Giga won the Season 49 Governors’ Cup crown at the expense of the veteran mentor and his Kings.

“I think the more important thing is the legacy that we leave. Hopefully we’re two coaches who are not only coaching for the victory of our respective teams but to really leave a mark and a legacy on Philippine coaching,” said Reyes.

“And at the end, when all of this is said and done, hopefully that’s something that we can both be proud of,” he added.

And such respect is also between Brownlee and Hollis-Jefferson.

Brownlee had nothing but good words for Hollis-Jefferson who has defeated him twice in as many meetings in the Finals. The Ginebra resident import was undefeated through his first six Finals until he faced Hollis-Jefferson.

Of course, the outcome of the series does not only rely on the coaches or the imports. A larger factor on how their rematch would pan out heavily depends on how their local stars would respond.

The Tropang Giga will have a daunting task of making up for the absence of their last Finals MVP Jayson Castro – a role that would fall on the shoulders of other stars Calvin Oftana, RR Pogoy and Rey Nambatac along with guys like JP Erram and Kelly Williams.

The Kings, on the other hand, are hoping to sustain their impressive run so far especially with Jamie Malonzo and Jeremiah Gray back in the fold to join a loaded crew led by Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar and RJ Abarrientos along with Stephen Holt and Maverick Ahanmisi.