PBA: Phoenix puts reigning champ San Miguel in 0-2 hole

Phoenix secured a 109-103 victory over the defending champion San Miguel Beermen in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup on Sunday, October 12, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. This win marked Phoenix's rebound from an opening game loss to TNT, while San Miguel remained winless after also falling to NLEX in their previous match.

Phoenix took control early in the game, building a significant 54-40 lead by halftime. Key contributions came from players like Kai Ballungay, Tyler Tio, Jason Perkins, and Prince Caperal, who combined for 37 points in the first half. In contrast, San Miguel's nine-time MVP June Mar Fajardo struggled initially, recording only five points and eight rebounds in the first 24 minutes.

Despite Fajardo finding his rhythm in the second half and scoring 14 points to finish with a game-high 19, Phoenix maintained their composure. RJ Rivero stepped up for Phoenix, countering with 12 points in the latter half and finishing with 16 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, which earned him the Player of the Game recognition. Phoenix held off San Miguel's comeback attempts to secure the upset win.

The final scores reflected Phoenix's 109-103 triumph, with quarterscores of 27-23, 61-51, 82-74, and 109-103. This result highlighted Phoenix's resilience and San Miguel's ongoing challenges in the tournament.