Report: Ginobili to play in Olympics

SAN ANTONIO, July 17 (UPI) -- The San Antonio Spurs expect guard Manu Ginobili to play for his native Argentina at the Olympics in Beijing, a newspaper report said Thursday.

The San Antonio Express-News said Spurs Coach Greg Popovich received a message Wednesday from Ginobili, last season's NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award winner, and said Ginobili left no doubt that he would help his country defend its 2004 Olympic gold medal.

Ginobli suffered a severe left ankle injury on June 19 in a playoff game against the Los Angeles Lakers but Popovich said the player has progressed enough to allow him to compete at Beijing.

"He said the ankle has felt great in his one-on-one workouts and in his personal training," Popovich told the Express-News. "He's out of shape and says his calves are hurting from all the running he's been doing but the important thing is that he says the ankle feels good."

Popovich added that he will be watching Argentina's games while holding his breath, the newspaper said.