If their epic semifinal encounter in the previous tournament would be the gauge, these crowd-drawers have definitely grown into real hardcourt rivals.

Tonight they will continue their budding rivalry in the main game of the Gran Matador PBA Fiesta Conference double-header right after the Alaska Aces-FedEx Express clash at the Araneta Coliseum.

"Problema na naman," said Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen when reminded that their next assignment would be the Beermen.

The Beermen, of course, are the current pacesetters with a 5-2 card followed closely by the Kings at 4-2.

These teams have met in the semifinals of the Philippine Cup with the Kings winning three games to two after taking the last two matches by narrow margins.

"Lagi kaming hirap pag San Miguel ang kalaban dahil nawawala ‘yung advantage namin sa loob," noted Tanquingcen.

The titanic encounter will also feature the league’s top two local scorers in Beermen’s Danny Seigle and Kings’ Mark Caguioa.

Seigle and Caguioa also scored the two highest outputs by a local this conference with the Beermen star pouring in 43 in a road win against Sta. Lucia and the Kings’ prolific guard hitting 40 in their most recent win also against the Realtors.

The meeting with the Beermen would actually kickoff the killer stretch on the Kings’ schedule.

On Wednesday, the three-peat seeking squad would be pitted against the tough Shell Turbo Chargers and on the next Sunday they would be up against Philippine Cup losing finalist Talk ‘N Text Phone Pals.