MANILA – The test begins for all 10 teams as the pre-season games of the 35th Philippine Basketball Association kick off tonight with the lone encounter between the Alaska Aces and the retooled Coca-Cola Tigers.

The match is set at 6 p.m. at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The Tigers are expected to parade new acquisitions Ken Bono, Larry Rodriguez, Marvin Cruz, Norman Gonzales and Jojo Duncil during the game, which also serves as baptism of fire for Fil-Am guard Chris Ross, the no. 3 overall pick in the last Rookie Draft.

It will also mark the first time in 14 years Dennis Espino will be wearing a playing uniform other than Sta. Lucia after Coca-Cola management acquired the veteran big man from the Realtors in an off-season trade.

Back in a Coca-Cola uniform this year are old reliables Asi Taulava, Alex Cabagnot, Ricky Calimag, Cesar Catli and Mark Macapagal. Gone from last year's roster are Mark Telan, Ronjay Buenafe, Nic Belasco and Aries Dimaunahan.

The Tigers will be up against an Aces squad which hardly tinkered with a lineup that reached the Finals of the Philippine Cup last season.

Coach Tim Cone's starting unit of two-time league MVP Willie Miller, L.A. Tenorio, Joe DeVance, Tony dela Cruz and center Sonny Thoss remains solid, while the Aces bench is still manned by dependable role players such as Reynel Hugnatan, John Ferriols, Larry Fonacier, Mark Borboran and the unsinkable Jeff Cariaso.

The team tapped only two rookies during the Draft – Sean Co and Michael Burtscher.

Following the Aces-Tigers duel, the annual exhibition series held prior to the start of the season goes outside of Metro Manila with a simultaneous game in Urdaneta City and Concepcion Tarlac tomorrow.

Defending Fiesta Cup champion San Miguel, bolstered by the arrival of former Far Eastern University teammates Arwind Santos and Denok Miranda, clashes with Barangay Ginebra in a rematch of last year's season-ending Finals in Pangasinan set at 4 p.m.

The Kings likewise shored up their roster by adding young guns Enrico Villanueva, Rich Alvarez, Paolo Bugia and Celino Cruz, while welcoming back to the fold top gunner Mark Caguioa.

In Tarlac, Burger King tangles with Purefoods also at 4 p.m., in a match that will see the debut of no. 2 overall pick Rico Maierhofer for the Giants.

Other pre-season games scheduled are Barako Bull-Rain or Shine at Arellano University (2 p.m.) and reigning All-Filipino champion Talk `N Text against Sta. Lucia at Lyceum University (6 p.m.), both on Sept. 28, followed on the 29th by the encounter between the Tropang Texters and Elasto Painters at PUP, Sta Mesa (4 p.m.);

The Tigers taking on the Realtors on Oct. 1 at the Pasig Catholic School (2:30 p.m.), the Beermen battling the Whoppers on Oct 2 at the RTU gym in Mandaluyong (4 p.m.), the Kings against the Boosters at San Beda, Mendiola on Oct. 3 (4 p.m.) and the Aces versus the Giants at PUP, Sta Mesa on Oct. 4 (4 p.m.).*

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