The test begins for all 10 teams as the pre-season games of the 35th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) season kick off on Friday 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 on Saturday.

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.