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."

Gilas will have a one-day break before taking Cambodia, which is expected to be studded with naturalized players, on Thursday at 6 p.m. (Manila time).

Naturalized Americans in Darrin Dorsey, Brandon Peterson and Sayeed Pridgeet are expected to be back after leading the Cambodians to the gold medal of the men's 3×3 event.

Sarno claims 3 silver medals

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SWP

WEIGHTLIFTING president Monico Puentevella (right) raises the arm of Vanessa Sarno after collecting three silver medals in the women's 71-kilogram event of the 2023 Asian Weightlifting Championships.

Vanessa Sarno will fly to Cambodia oozing with momentum after collecting three silver medals in the women's 71-kilogram class of the 2023 Asian Weightlifting Championships on Tuesday at the Jinju Arena in Jinju, South Korea.

Billed as heir apparent of Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, Sarno lifted 107 kgs in snatch and 132 kgs in clean and jerk for a total lift of 239 kgs.

Chinese powerhouse Liao Guifang, a former world juniors world champion, clinched the gold medals after lifting 120 kgs in snatch and 148 kgs in clean and jerk for a total of 268 kgs.

The 19-year-old Sarno completed all three of her lifts in the snatch but faltered in her last lift in the clean and jerk, when she tried 136 kgs.

Still, her effort was enough to hold off Chinese Taipei's Chen Wen-Huei, who lifted a total of 232 kgs after registering 101 kgs in snatch and 131 kgs in clean and jerk.

In the 2020 Asian Weightlifting Championships in Uzbekistan, which was held in 2021 due to the Covid pandemic, Sarno won silver in the snatch, gold in the clean and jerk, and gold in the total lift.

She is also the reigning SEA Games champion and will be favored when the weightlifting competition of the 32nd biennial meet unwraps next week.

"Barring no obstacles, we now have a good chance to send three lifters to qualify already for Paris Olympics," Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella said.

"This is the bottom line: Sarno is only 19 years old but she is already second to the Chines world record holder."

Meanwhile, another Filipina lifter, Kristel Macrohon, placed eighth among 10 lifters with a total of 218 kgs after tallying 98 kgs in snatch and 120 kgs in clean and jerk.

Earlier, Diaz missed out on the podium in her first foray in the women's 59-kg event after finishing fourth. Another Filipina entry in Elreen Ando also saw action but was unsuccessful in all of her three attempts of 125 kgs in clean and jerk.

Rose Jean Ramos, for her part, won three silvers in the women's 45kg class.