Manu Ginobili waiting for a green signal to play for Argentina – NBA Update
From today, the Argentinean National Team will begin training for the upcoming FIBA Americas Championship. However, the participation of one of Argentina’s most esteemed and famous basketball star, the San Antonio Spurs shooting
guard Manu Ginobili, still remains fogged up as a result of the NBA lockout.
Ginobili indicated earlier that he will join his home team to participate in the 2011 FIBA Americas, which is in effect has become an Olympic qualifying tournament. The event is scheduled to start on 28th August this
year in Mar del Plata, Argentina.
Ginobili is in the final stages of his career and has stated that playing for his country is “very, very important” for him.
“I know I only have this one and probably the next one to play with all my great friends on the team.” Ginobili said.
Houston Rockets’ Luis Scola, Milwaukee Bucks’ Carlos Delfino and Philadelphia 76ers Andres Nocioni are also on the list of NBA players, looking to play for the national team in the tournament. The players will receive the authorization
once the Argentine Basketball Federation solves the insurance issues for these players.
Normally, each NBA team, whose players are participating for the FIBA certified event in any of the national teams, is responsible to insure 80 percent of the contract. However, considering NBA has locked out its players, the whole
insurance burden has been transferred on the national federations. This has created a bit of a mess for the international teams as they will have to go out of their way to ensure participation of their ace players.
The President of the Argentine Federation German Vaccaro however has stated that he will pay the insurance amount to secure the contracts and is optimistic to have the NBA stars on board.
“One way or another, we are going to solve it, and NBA players will be able to play with the team. If we have to pay it, we’ll pay it, but I am very optimistic.”
The insurance money which the Argentinean basketball federation will pay is estimated to be around $5, 00,000. If this actually happens, the news might be a good one for the Argentinean fans, but it might not be so good for the
San Antonio Spurs.
During the 2008 Olympics, Ginobili aggravated his left ankle injury. He went through a surgery and definitely lost a step after that. He has been recuperating from the elbow injury in the off season as well and the situation does
not bode well for the Spurs, who will want their Argentinean Sniper back, to have a last hurrah at the NBA title in the Tim Duncan era.
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