Injury knocks Argentina's Scola out of AmeriCup

BAHIA BLANCA (FIBA AmeriCup 2017) - Argentina great Luis Scola has been lost for the remainder of the FIBA AmeriCup after suffering a minor calf injury in his team's 92-86 victory over Canada.

Scola, who skipped the team's opening game Venezuela on Sunday as a precautionary measure following his recovery from a left calf problem, injured the other calf during Monday's 92-86 win over the Canadians. He played less than two minutes before leaving the court.

"I had already recovered from the left calf injury and I felt well," Scola said in an interview with the Argentinian Basketball Confederation. "I could have played the day before but we decided to give it one more day. I felt very good.

"In fact, that leg happens to be the good one, now. The other one betrayed me. I have never had a (muscle) tear, least of all two within the space of a week.

I believe I could have brought a lot to the team on the court but then again, this team never had me. The team is the same because I didn't play and it will continue in the same way. It will not miss me.ScolaScola

"Perhaps it's something to do with the training that I did to affect that area. It's a real pity because I had recovered well from the first one."

Scola, who spent the past decade in the NBA, signed with Chinese CBA side Shanxi last month. He does not expect to be out of action long.

"It's not a worrying injury," he said. "I had recovered from the previous one within six days but now this one rules me out of the tournament."

Scola says he will still try to bring something positive to the team, even it it's not points and rebounds.

Scola limped out of Monday's game against Canada

"With respect to everything that is off the court, in terms of leadership, I'm going to continue to be here," he said.

"I believe I could have brought a lot to the team on the court but then again, this team never had me. The team is the same because I didn't play and it will continue in the same way. It will not miss me.

"The team is really good. At this point, the fact that I'm not playing is irrelevant. I will try to add from the sidelines."

Scola, the national team captain, is a member of Argentina's golden generation. He played in the side that reached the Final of the 2002 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Indianapolis and then helped fire Argentina to Olympic gold two years later in Athens.

FIBA