Cone, Reyes battle it out again in the Finals after 12 years
After 12 years, Coaches Tim Cone and Chot Reyes will battle it out once again in a PBA Finals.
Splitting their past six encounters at 3-3, the pals Cone and Reyes will grind it out in the championship match-up of the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup.
The two mentors started their journey in Alaska when Coach Tim was still the head coach of the squad while Coach Chot was his chief deputy.
And now that they are together in the Finals once more, though in the opposing sides, Cone is happy to battle it out again with his friend.
"We are really just happy that we are back in and going to pit against my good friend coach Chot again," said the Barangay Ginebra mentor.
"There's always been that rivalry between Ginebra and TNT. Looking forward to mixing it up with my buddy," he added.
In their head-to-head match-up, Reyes won his first title against Cone during the 1994 Commissioner’s Cup when he guided Purefoods to a victory over Alaska.
Meanwhile, Tim Cone got back at his former deputy during the 1996 All-Filipino Cup. It was also the year where Alaska won grand slam titles.
The next two of their battles went to Cone as he won the 2003 Invitational Cup and the 2007 Fiesta Cup for Alaska, while Reyes won their last two competitions when he captured the 2002 All-Filipino Cup with Coca-Cola and the 2008-09 Philippine Cup with Talk ‘N Text.
Their next face-off will be the first time that Cone will take on Reyes in the Finals as the Gin Kings coach. The TNT-Ginebra tussle in the 2023 Governors’ Cup finals was between Cone and his former Alaska ward Jojo Lastimosa, who led the Tropang Texters to the promised land. Reyes at that time was focused on his role as Gilas Pilipinas head coach.
In the recently concluded semifinals, Cone and the Kings defeated the San Miguel Beermen in a gritty series, 4-2, while Reyes and the Tropang Giga overcame the young and persevering Rain or Shine Elasto Painters of their own series, 4-1.
The 66-year-old Cone, is the winningest coach in the league’s history with 25 titles tucked under his belt and still looking for more, while the 61-year-old Reyes has nine championships.
They were both multiple recipients of the “Coach of the Year” awards from the PBA Press Corps. The award is named after ‘The Maestro’ Virgilio ‘Baby’ Dalupan.
Cone won the award four times already, while Reyes won it six times – the most in PBA’s history.
Game 1 of the finals will be on Sunday, October 27, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
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The East Asia Super League (EASL) is officially set to raise the curtain on its new season with a twin opening in Taipei and Tokyo on October 8, 2025 — a move that reflects the league’s expanding reach and growing stature as Asia’s premier basketball competition.
All eyes in Taiwan will be on the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium, which will host a blockbuster doubleheader featuring some of the region’s most decorated clubs.
The action tips off with a clash between the B.LEAGUE champions Utsunomiya Brex and the P. LEAGUE+ runners-up Taipei Fubon Braves. Utsunomiya, led by veteran guard Makoto Hiejima, entered as one of Japan’s most successful franchises. The Braves, meanwhile, look to prove their resilience after falling short in a grueling seven-game finals series last season, banking on the leadership of Chinese Taipei legend Lin Chih-Chieh.
The second game of the night brings a rematch between the P. LEAGUE+ champions Taoyuan Pauian Pilots and Japan’s Ryukyu Golden Kings. Their last encounter came in the 2025 EASL Final Four semifinals, where Taoyuan stunned Ryukyu, 71–64. This time, the Golden Kings are eager for redemption, while the Pilots hope to reaffirm their place among Asia’s elite.
Game schedule (HKT):
- Utsunomiya vs. Taipei Fubon – 6:30 PM
- Taoyuan vs. Ryukyu – 8:30 PM
China came within a single basket of toppling Oceania powerhouse Australia in the FIBA Asia Cup final, bowing 90-89 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but sending a clear message that it remains a force in Asian basketball.
The Chinese squad, bannered by Hu Mingxuan and Hu Jinqiu, led by as many as 15 points through three quarters before faltering in the final minutes against the defending champions. Despite the heartbreaking loss, the performance was a reminder of China’s proud basketball heritage and its potential return to continental supremacy.
Gilas Pilipinas advanced to the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup quarterfinals after triumphing over host nation Saudi Arabia in a tense 95-88 overtime victory on Monday, August 11 (Tuesday, August 12 in Manila) at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.
Justin Brownlee once again showed his ‘Never Say Die’ attitude after drilling a contested three-pointer with 3.7 seconds left to force the extra period. He went on to finish with 29 points, five assists, and four rebounds, paving the way for a quarterfinal showdown with two-time defending champion Australia on Wednesday, August 13.
Brownlee’s heroics set the stage for Kevin Quiambao, who buried two triples in OT to complete a 17-point performance alongside three dimes and three deflections.
"It was a special game, it was a special performance from both teams," said head coach Tim Cone. "They (Saudi Arabia) posed a lot of problems for us, and by all rights, they had the game won — except for the guy sitting to my right (Brownlee). If you know his history, that’s not unusual. He’s been hitting big shots."
AJ Edu anchored the middle with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists, while Dwight Ramos chipped in 13 markers, 10 boards, three dimes, and a rejection.
Beyond Brownlee’s late-game magic, the Philippines secured the win by neutralizing Saudi Arabia’s high-scoring duo of Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman and Mohammed Alsuwailem in the extra frame.
Abdur-Rahkman erupted for 33 points on 8-of-14 shooting from deep, while Alsuwailem tallied 26 points, 14 rebounds, and three blocks — but the two combined for only five points in OT as Gilas closed the door on the hosts’ upset bid.
The Scores:
Philippines 95 – Brownlee 29, Edu 17, Quiambao 17, Ramos 13, Fajardo 6, Tamayo 5, Thompson 4, Newsome 4, Malonzo 0, Perez 0, Aguilar 0.
Saudi Arabia 88 – Abdur-Rahkman 33, Alsuwailem 26, Almuwallad 10, Abdel Gabar 8, Ma. Almarwani 4, Belal 3, Kadi 3, Mo. Almarwani 1, Shubayli 0.
Quarters: 25-15, 40-37, 60-59, 79-79 (reg.), 95-88 (OT).