usckk
02-21-2008, 07:07 PM
AN ANTONIO (TICKER) —San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili has made winning an Olympic gold medal his priority this year but insists he is not preoccupied with hopes for Beijing.
The 30-year-old Argentine has even ranked that aim above winning an NBA title but knows his country will have a huge challenge on its hands if it is to fend off stiff competition from the likes of Team USA.
“If I have to choose between a new NBA title or the Olympic gold medal this year, I’d choose the Olympic medal because it would possibly be my last opportunity to win one,” said Ginobili, who won gold with Argentina in Athens four years ago.
“In the NBA, if I don’t win this year, it might be next year or the following. I cannot think about the Games now because we have a lot of matches, a lot of trips and my mind is focused on taking care of my body. I cannot think about five months’ time from now.”
But he agreed that at some point Argentina will have to focus in on its tough road ahead.
“We know how difficult it will be but we know it is a possibility,” Ginobili said. “A medal is our goal, then we’ll see which color it is. Without a doubt, we are one of the best four teams in the world and we’ll try to prove it on the court.”
Ginobili was unable to confirm whether he would continue playing for Argentina after the Olympics.
“As I said after the past World Championship in Japan, whether I play for the national team will depend on how good I feel, how motivated I am and my physical state,” he told ole.com.ar.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=ApnleepWL_e4iAZ7qGLTmJQ5nYcB?slug=txspur sginobili&prov=st&type=lgns
The 30-year-old Argentine has even ranked that aim above winning an NBA title but knows his country will have a huge challenge on its hands if it is to fend off stiff competition from the likes of Team USA.
“If I have to choose between a new NBA title or the Olympic gold medal this year, I’d choose the Olympic medal because it would possibly be my last opportunity to win one,” said Ginobili, who won gold with Argentina in Athens four years ago.
“In the NBA, if I don’t win this year, it might be next year or the following. I cannot think about the Games now because we have a lot of matches, a lot of trips and my mind is focused on taking care of my body. I cannot think about five months’ time from now.”
But he agreed that at some point Argentina will have to focus in on its tough road ahead.
“We know how difficult it will be but we know it is a possibility,” Ginobili said. “A medal is our goal, then we’ll see which color it is. Without a doubt, we are one of the best four teams in the world and we’ll try to prove it on the court.”
Ginobili was unable to confirm whether he would continue playing for Argentina after the Olympics.
“As I said after the past World Championship in Japan, whether I play for the national team will depend on how good I feel, how motivated I am and my physical state,” he told ole.com.ar.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=ApnleepWL_e4iAZ7qGLTmJQ5nYcB?slug=txspur sginobili&prov=st&type=lgns