<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">BUENOS AIRES (National Team) - Manu Ginobili wants to play at the 2008 Olympics after Argentina clinched qualification through the FIBA Americas Championship. The San Antonio Spurs star is delighted by the way Argentina played in Las Vegas and praised the team in an interview with Clarin newspaper. "I was not surprised when they achieved the qualification, but they were consistent and that's difficult," he said. "They did not give me any chance to feel nervous because they won very well. "They gave me the opportunity to be in the Olympic Games again and I want to defend the gold medal. "I thank them because of how they represented us, their professionalism and team play." Ginobili, Pepe Sanchez, Fabricio Oberto, Walter Herrmann, Andres Nocioni and Ruben Wolkowyski were all absent in the FIBA Americas Championship, and the forward is pleased that Sergio Hernandez's side lived up to expectations with names like Antonio Porta, Pablo Prigioni, Roman Gonzalez and Carlos Sandes in the team. "I hope we can go on this way, with passion and effort from everybody. We have to be a team and they played wonderfully as a team," Ginobili continued. "Criticism to absentees is inevitable. Any important decision generates criticism and it hurt because I know what I've given and what I will go on giving to the national team. "I have never doubted the decision I took after a long time thinking about it. San Antonio advised me not to play and my body needed it to be better at the Olympics."</div> FIBA.COM
It's good to see stars wanting to take part in international competition like this where possible. They're loaded with money and the NBA schedule is greuling, but representing their country should always remain an honour.
