THE achievers of the past season get the deserved honors and recognition then an old keenly followed rivalry takes centerstage to kick off action in PBA Season 50 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Philippine Cup ushers in the new season, featuring a Manila Clasico opening game that's expected to set the tone for wars that promise to be filled with drama, excitement and unforgettable moments.
Consider the Barangay Ginebra-Magnolia clash alone. It's undoubtedly the league's biggest draw taking new significance with a coaching duel pitting old maestro Tim Cone and longtime ward LA Tenorio.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said the Ginebra-Magnolia opener was chosen for nothing else but the Cone-Tenorio face-off.
"Lahat naman pwede (any kind of matchup) pero pinili naman ang Ginebra-Magnolia for Tim Cone versus LA," said Marcial during the PBA Season 50 media launch.
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They'd been together from their Alaska Milk days to Barangay Ginebra and to Gilas Pilipinas. But as Tenorio graduated to coaching, the inevitable is happening - his clash with Cone right in the lone match to kick off the new season.
Game time is at 7:30 p.m. succeeding the Season 49 Leo Awards where June Mar Fajardo, Robert Bolick and Arvin Tolentino are tipped to be the biggest honorees.
As the combatants for the MVP award, the three are expected to lead the Mythical Selection.
Then the Gin Kings and the Hotshots take the floor, both teams bringing their old cores with fresh additions.
New recruits adding ceiling to Ginebra are Norbert Torres and rookie Sonny Estil. To be missed, however, is Jamie Malonzo who's brought his stuff abroad.
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Magnolia reeled in Paolo Taha and Javi Gomez de Liano to join the mix that will still be led by Paul Lee, Ian Sangalang, Mark Barroca, Zavi Lucero and Rome dela Rosa.
Then there's the possibility of Tenorio suiting up back as player, if the need arises.
Both sides are hungry and ache to contend for crown.
Ginebra shared the honors with TNT as top performers in the elims last season, but the Kings went down beaten in the finals of the two import-laden tourneys.
Magnolia, meanwhile, has not made the finals for a while and is without a championship since winning its last back in the 2018 Governors' Cup.(SB)
