PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Gilas Pilipinas flexed its muscles right from the get go to blast Malaysia, 94-49, and sent a strong warning to the rest of the competitors in the men's basketball event of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games Tuesday at the Morodok Techo National Stadium Elephant Hall 2 here.

Utilizing all of its 12-man roster, the Filipinos were able to draw balanced production with Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser emerging as the most aggressive player en route to the crucial win that boosted their morale heading into their showdown with Cambodia.

A member of the 3×3 team that failed to defend its crown in the biennial meet in Hanoi last year, Ganuelas-Rosser made sure that he will not go unnoticed in the full-court event.

The NLEX rookie dropped 11 points halfway through the second period to finish with 15 points while the rest of the team made key contributions, including naturalized player Justin Brownlee and Arvin Tolentino.

Brownlee finished with 11 points, four rebounds, two steals and a block in limited action while Tolentino dropped 10 markers and six boards for the Filipinos, who also drew impressive games from college stars Jerom Lastimosa and Mason Amos in their 45-point massacre.

Playing for the Gilas team mostly composed of players from the Philippine Basketball Association, Lastimosa and Amos had already produced six points apiece in the first half.

Lastimosa is playing in the Gilas team for the first time while Amos is in his second tour of duty after making a good first impression during the sixth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers last February at the Philippine Arena.

'Anyway, this is good start.'

By halfway of the last period, the Philippines had already posted a 50-point lead, 92-42, and it was all business in taking its first win.

"It's good that we were able to sustain our energy, but it's going to be a lot, lot harder next time," Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes told his players inside the locker room.

"Anyway, this is good start."