Defending the most prestigious prize in a PBA season could have a different dynamic for Meralco, because such a status means it automatically becomes a stumbling block for the Grand Slam bid of sister team TNT.

But the Bolts would rather focus on what’s ahead of them, especially with their Philippine Cup title defense running through a difficult stretch beginning Friday, when it battles the young and tough Converge FiberXers at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

“We’re just locked in on this stretch,” coach Luigi Trillo said ahead of the 7:30 p.m. contest, which follows the kickoff game featuring Terrafirma at 5 p.m.

Meralco also has Terrafirma two nights later, San Miguel Beer on April 9 and Phoenix on April 13, and getting a good slate after those mathes may bode well in its quest to once again savor what it had enjoyed in June 2024, when the chase for a first PBA title finally came to an end.

The Bolts, however, are coming off two consecutive quarterfinal exits at the hands of old rival Barangay Ginebra, and the competition is expected to get even tough following a Commissioner’s Cup to remember.

A lot of focus will fall on TNT’s quest to pursue a Grand Slam, which it will do carrying the new moniker Tropang 5G. That goal ensures that there will be two teams with special reasons for wanting to run away with the league’s prized trophy.

And among the teams looking to play spoiler is Ginebra, which has fallen short twice in championship matches against Chot Reyes’ squad.

Semifinalists NorthPort and Rain or Shine also pose a threat along with San Miguel, which cannot be overlooked even after the Beermen missed the playoffs in the Commissioner’s Cup.

And then there’s Converge, which showed a lot of promise and missed the semifinals of the Commissioner’s Cup and the Governors’ Cup by just one win. The FiberXers havea young core featuring ustin Arana, Alec Stockton, Justine Baltazar and Jordan Heading.

“They added quality players recently with Balti, Heading and [Rey] Suerte [from Blackwater before the start of the conference,] while Stockton, Arana and [Schonny] Winston have developed really well,” said Trillo.

“Converge is one of the teams that are really solid, along with Rain or Shine and NorthPort. They’ve become a deeper team because of the draft picks and their system.”

For the Bolts to match up well, Trillo said, almost every player outside of leaders Chris Newsome and Cliff Hodge have to step up, now that the conference won’t have any imports to rely on.

“Now, everyone will have the opportunity to contribute,” he said.