MERALCO kicks off its defense of the PBA Philippine Cup title right on opening day of the season-ending conference on April 4 when it faces Converge in the main game of a twin bill at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Bolts will again parade the same core that won for the franchise its first ever league championship following a huge upset of the favored San Miguel Beermen in six games of last season's finals.
At the same time, the team will try to make up for its early exit in the recently-concluded Commissioner's Cup where it lost to Barangay Ginebra in their best-of-three quarterfinals series that went the full route.
But the FiberXers are just as raring to bounce back following their first round loss to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the playoffs.
The team is also expected to unleash the full potential of its Twin Tower in Justin Arana and rookie Justin Baltazar as they now control the FiberXers' frontcourt without import Cheick Diallo.
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The game is at 7:30 p.m., setting off the anniversary month of the PBA which turns 50 on April 9.
Terrafirma and Phoenix clash in the 5 p.m. curtain raiser.
Meanwhile, San Miguel makes its conference debut the next day (April 5) by taking on NLEX also at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in a doubleheader that will have Blackwater and Magnolia playing in the opening game.
Interestingly, San Miguel and Meralco face each other on the league's anniversary date at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in a rematch of last year's All-Filipino Cup finals.
On April 12, Northport and Rain or Shine play their first game, respectively at the NAS.
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Featuring the Commissioner's Cup Best Player of the Conference Arvin Tolentino, the Batang Pier tackle the Terrafirma Dyip, while the Elasto Painters go up against the NLEX Road Warriors.
Newly-crowned Commissioner's Cup champion TNT and runner up Barangay Ginebra return to action on the same playdate on April 23 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Tropang 5G tackle the Road Warriors, while the Kings take on the Dyip. (RG)
