Sports

Aston Villa defeated Manchester United 2-1 at Villa Park as Morgan Rogers scored two solo goals to secure the club’s 10th straight win in all competitions. The Premier League victory kept Unai Emery’s side in third place and within three points of the top of the table. The result extended Villa’s strong form in the title race and left Manchester United outside the leading positions. This fact-based match report covers the key moments, scoring, atmosphere, and implications for both clubs in the ongoing Premier League season.

Jamie Malonzo helped Gilas Pilipinas secure a 70-64 win over host Thailand in the SEA Games men’s basketball gold-medal match at Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok on Friday. Filipino fans chanted “MVP” as Malonzo headed to the free-throw line in the closing minutes and converted crucial points that preserved the lead. Gilas used tight defense and timely free throws to hold off Thailand’s late comeback attempts and then received the gold medals during a postgame ceremony on the court.

Gilas Pilipinas defeated host Thailand, 70-64, at Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok to win the men’s basketball gold medal at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games. Robert Bolick led the Filipinos in the title-clinching victory and issued strong remarks after the game about the hostile atmosphere. Players and coaches celebrated on the court and during the medal ceremony as organizers awarded gold to the Philippines and silver to Thailand. The win added another gold to the Philippine campaign in the regional meet.

Victor Wembanyama logged his 100th consecutive NBA regular-season game with at least one block in the San Antonio Spurs’ 126-98 win over the Atlanta Hawks in Atlanta. The Spurs center finished with 26 points, 12 assists and two blocks, anchoring both the offense and defense. His early-career streak of games with at least one block continued as San Antonio controlled the matchup and secured a decisive road victory. Officials, statisticians and fans documented the milestone as the Spurs advanced through their regular-season schedule.

Jake Paul confirmed he suffered a double broken jaw in his sixth-round knockout loss to former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in Miami. Paul posted an X-ray image on social media showing his jaw fractured in two places following the Netflix-streamed boxing bout. The injury occurred when Joshua stopped Paul in Round 6, and medical staff later evaluated the YouTuber-turned-boxer before he announced the diagnosis.

San Antonio Spurs players Victor Wembanyama and Devin Vassell marked the holiday period with personal and community-focused actions, as Wembanyama shared a public tribute to his late grandmother and Vassell visited the Boys & Girls Club of Greater San Antonio to meet with local youth and support ongoing outreach programs.

Calvin Oftana returned from a recent hamstring injury to score a game-high 25 points and lead TNT Tropang 5G to a 113-96 victory over Blackwater in the PBA Philippine Cup at Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila on Friday, adding two rebounds and two assists in the win.

Coach Jorge Souza De Brito has stepped down as head coach of the Alas Pilipinas women’s national volleyball team after a four-year tenure that ended with a fourth-place finish at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games. Program officials confirmed his departure and said the national squad would soon begin the search for a new head coach while retaining its current training pool. De Brito expressed gratitude to players, staff, and supporters and extended well wishes to the Philippine volleyball program. The national federation plans a performance review of the recent SEA Games campaign to guide future preparations.

Filipino tennis player Alex Eala captured the Philippines’ first-ever Southeast Asian Games gold medal in women’s singles tennis by defeating Thai home favorite Mananchaya Sawangkaew, 6-1, 6-2, in the 33rd SEA Games final in Thailand. Eala delivered under pressure to give Team Philippines a historic title and boost the country’s medal tally in the regional multi-sport event.