ARG – Ginobili ends up just as happy as if he’d played

BEIJING (Olympics) – Manu Ginobili laced up his high-tops and tried to play for Argentina on Sunday in the bronze medal game against Lithuania but felt too much pain in his ankle and had to watch from the bench.

Ginobili suffered a recurrence of the ankle injury that nearly knocked him out of the Olympics in the first quarter of his team’s semi-final defeat to the United States.

Argentina coach Sergio Hernandez revealed after his team’s 87-75 victory over Lithuania that Ginobili became emotional after the pre-game warm-ups.

"We came in this morning knowing Manu would not play but then we saw him putting the uniform in the locker room, silently as Manu is,” Hernandez said.

“He put his bandages in his foot and no-one said anything. He joined his team-mates in a warm-up and he tried out his foot for 10 minutes but he felt pain and he went back to the locker room, got changed and started crying.

“For us, the thing that struck us was how Manu felt he had failed and that just was a further motivation for us to play hard, and to play with double the effort.

“Manu is not irresponsible, he is under contract (with San Antonio) and he wouldn't play if he was injured as this was the case.”

Close friend and teammate Luis Scola said that the entire team had been inspired by Ginobili.

"It touched us all that Manu tried to the last minute to play with us,” Scola said.

“But we as a team trust the team. Those who don't know us think that without Manu we cannot do anything but that is not true.

“Of course, I could I would always like to have Manu playing alongside me but I think what makes a good team is the fact that other players are able to step up in these situations."

In his absence, Leo Gutierrez and Paolo Quinteros each had 11 points.

Manu Ginobili, who watched the game wearing a pair of jeans and an Argentina polo shirt, spoke to FIBA.com after the game.

"I'm very happy,” he said.

“It's not the same thing going home with a medal than empty handed.

“I think my team pulled off a show of unique basketball, of temperament, of unity and character.

“I am really proud of what my team-mates did, of the game they played.

“It's not always easy to play for third place but they did an incredible job.

“They were perfect.”

Indeed, the medal takes away all the pain.

“I tried to play but it was not possible,” Ginobili said.

“I've been more hurt from an emotional level than a physical one not to be able to play before.

“But now, I am as happy as if I would have played."

By Jeff Taylor, Basketball World News

FIBA