PBA Season 50 turned into a stage of shockers on Sunday night, October 12, as Phoenix produced a stirring 109-103 upset of San Miguel Beer at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo, notching its first win of the season in the PBA Philippine Cup.

The Fuel Masters’ breakthrough victory came just hours after Terrafirma snapped its 11-game losing streak with a 97-91 stunner over NLEX, creating a dramatic night that flipped the early tournament script.

For Phoenix, the win was a powerful bounce-back from a 93-78 loss to TNT just two days earlier. Willy Wilson’s squad controlled the game almost from start to finish, leading by as many as 16 in the fourth quarter on a James Kwekuteye triple and holding off a furious Beermen rally to hand the defending champions a shocking 0-2 start in the all-Filipino conference.

Rivero sparks second-half surge

Ricci Rivero embodied Phoenix’s turnaround. After a quiet 1-of-4 first half, he erupted for 14 points in the final two quarters, finishing with a team-high 18. His steady free throws in the clutch sealed the deal and snapped Phoenix’s 10-game skid against San Miguel.

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Kai Ballungay and Tyler Tio chipped in 14 points each, Jason Perkins added 13, while Prince Caperal, Evan Nelle, and Matthew Daves contributed crucial plays that offset June Mar Fajardo’s monster 19-point, 22-rebound double-double.

San Miguel’s rally falls short

The Beermen mounted one last push, trimming a 13-point deficit with a 9-0 run late in the fourth. Don Trollano (18 points), CJ Perez (17), and Jericho Cruz (15) tried to carry the load, but Phoenix held its composure. Rivero’s free throws in the dying seconds iced the game, delivering Wilson his first win as a PBA head coach.

“It’s significant even without talking about the 10-game losing streak,” Wilson said. “Knowing we have the ability to beat a team like San Miguel Beer, it’s good for the team. We don’t know what pattern is gonna happen next.”