MANILA, Philippines -- Despite missing the services of Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter, Smart-Gilas Pilipinas trounced the United Arab Emirates (UAE), 92-52, on Day 1 of the FIBA-Asia Championship in Wuhan, China.

Mac Baracael led the Nationals with 15 points on 7-of-8 field goal shooting.

Naturalized citizen Marcus Douthit and Asi Taulava each scored 13 for Gilas, while JV Casio came off the bench to add 11.

UAE managed to stay within 5 points in the first quarter, 17-12.

But Taulava and Casio sparked a 24-10 exchange in the second quarter to break away from UAE, 41-22.

Gilas never looked back after that. The Nationals even led by as much as 41 points in the second half.

Hussain Ahmed finished with 12 points for UAE.

Ali Alhattawi and Ibrahim Ahmad were the other double-digit scorers for UAE.

Alhattawi made 11 while Ahmad tallied 10.

Gilas will next play host China on Friday.

Trouble for Lutz, Lassiter

Lutz and Lassiter won’t be able to suit up for the Nationals following a complaint lodged by Lebanon.

The 2 Filipino-Americans were ruled as “naturalized citizens.”

“(Their papers) clearly say that both players have been issued Philippine passport on the date after their 16th birthday,” FIBA Asia deputy secretary general Hagop Khajirian said in Philstar.com.

“They (may have become) Filipinos after the age of 16. We don't have a document proving that they acquired citizenship before the age of 16,” he added.