The three-time defending All-Filipino champion Beermen will open the 2018 semifinals against the Gin Kings Friday at the Big Dome For the fourth time in the last five PBA conferences,

The best-of-7 series is a rematch from last year's Finals, where San Miguel handily beat Ginebra in five games to capture the Perpetual trophy. It's the only series win by the Beermen over the Gin Kings in the last five conferences as Ginebra hold a 2-1 edge since the 2016 Governors' Cup.

The barangay edged San Miguel in the semifinals of that conference on their way to their first title in eight years. A year later in the 2017 Governors' Cup, the Gin Kings ended the Beermen's Grand Slam hopes in the quarterfinals.

Game 1 of the best-of-7 will tip off 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Big Dome.