WITH Barangay Ginebra closing the double-round eliminations of the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup with a narrow 103-99 overtime defeat to NLEX, the Gin Kings dropped to a quarterfinal duel with long-time rival Meralco Bolts.

The PBA has had its share of historic rivalries throughout its 49-year history such as Toyota-Crispa, Great Taste-Tanduay, and the long-standing Manila Clasico clashes between Barangay Ginebra and Magnolia (formerly Purefoods). But the Gin Kings and the Bolts have had their share of hard court rivalry which dates back to the 2016 Governors' Cup.