TNT head coach Chot Reyes and Barangay Ginebra mentor Tim Cone will compete for a Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) title for the eighth time in their long and illustrious coaching careers.

On Friday at the expected jampacked Mall of Asia Arena, two of the country’s brightest basketball minds will meet in a chess match for first blood in the best-of-seven Commissioner’s Cup finals series.

The title showdown will serve as a rematch of the season-opening Governors’ Cup ruled by the Tropang Giga. It is also the third time in the last five conferences the two decorated franchises figured out in the biggest stage of the contest.

But looking beyond the rivalry, both coaches agree they’re building something bigger.

“Oh, I think Chot and I would both agree that we’ve been rivals since he left Alaska in 19-forgotten, I don’t remember,” Cone quipped about his former Alaska deputy during the finals presser Monday at the Kamay Kainan in Quezon City.

“I mean there’s always been that rivalry. We’re friends but we also know we’re competitors. We like to compete. Irrespective of the teams we coach, we always have great respect and come out and compete with each other,” added Cone, who is down 3-4 in his championship head-to-head with Reyes.

Reyes’ TNT has beaten the Kings in the last two editions of the Governors’ Cup — something Cone wants to snap.

‘I mean there’s always been that rivalry.’

“It doesn’t change through the years. In fact, it just continues to get heightened the more we go along. I think the older we get the more special these series become. I know we’re both looking forward to it,” the 25-time PBA champion mentor Cone said.

Cone and Reyes have come a long way since their partnership in the disbanded Alaska franchise.

“It’s 35 years to be exact. My last stint with Alaska was in 1990 that’s 35 years ago,” Reyes shared.

The former national team mentor echoed the current Gilas Pilipinas tactician about leaving their indelible mark in Philippine basketball.

“Like Tim said, 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 in Philippine coaching,” Reyes said.

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

TNT will try to double its title head-to-head lead over Ginebra which currently stands at 3-2. =