Ginebra-Meralco could be the modern-day rivalry we have been waiting for

San Miguel Beermen and Alaska Aces was the last rematch in a conference finals. That happened in the 2016 PBA All-Filipino Cup. We all know what happened there. San Miguel accomplished the rarest feat in the history of championship basketball. Coming back from a 0-3 deficit.

Even with that historical happening, I never felt the San Miguel and Alaska went from a very good rivalry into something special. 

This Meralco Bolts versus Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel, could be something different.

There is real animosity involved. Jared Dillinger is very vocal about his desire of playing and beating the most popular ball club in the country. The entire Barangay has taken notice and has labeled the bearded one as a "persona nan grata".

We also have the fact that the two teams are headed by the two most successful coaches in the history of the league, Tim Cone and Norman Black. The play in the 2016 finals was phenomenal. I enjoyed the chess match of the two coaches. And I am pretty  sure the other basketball purist also felt the same way.

The history between the two is already filled with historical accomplishments and moments. Ginebra ended their eight years title-drought against the Bolts. The Bolts entered their first Finals against Ginebra. And of course, that Justin Brownlee shot.

I will be shocked if that is not one of the greatest clutch shots in the history of the league. Justin Brownlee against Allen Durnham. Durnham, putting the best defense that he could possibly do. And Brownlee, delivering the best shot that he can possibly try. And the result? The offense overcome the defense. 

But, I think, this is the real reason why this could be a legendary rivalry. 

Almost all non-Ginebra fans hated them. They want to see them get destroyed. They want to witnessed them begging for life. They want to watched them getting embarrassed.

So, there is no better team to accomplish that than through a respectable young franchise. A franchise that is being led by respectable young studs named Chris Newsome and Baser Amer. 

It is hard to hate the Meralco Bolts. They maintained the respect of the community with their savvy drafting, wise trades and hard to hate veterans in Jimmy Alapag, Reynel Hugnatan and Gary David. Norman Black will not say anything worth condemning. Cliff Hodge will die in the court for his team. 

That is why it is easy for the Non-Ginebra fans to root for them. Because in this match-up, Ginebra is in unusual territory. They are the favorites. 

Meralco is the underdog. If Meralco pulls the unthinkable, I am pretty sure that there will be more PBA fans that will rejoice than mourn.