ARG/USA – Ginobili to have surgery on ankle

SAN ANTONIO (NBA) – Argentina star Manu Ginobili has no regrets about playing at the Olympics despite being told he needs to have an operation after aggravating an ankle injury in the semi-final against the United States.

Ginobili went down in the first quarter against Team USA and didn’t play again in that game, or in Argentina’s bronze-medal win against Lithuania.

"I would take this decision to go to Beijing again,” Ginobili said on his official website.

“Although I understand the frustration because it could be that I may miss some (NBA) games, but to play at the Olympics, it´s very important for any athlete.

“I matured, it offered me another life experience and I always felt that it was something I had to do.”

“Ginobili will undergo surgery to correct a posterior impingement of his left ankle,” the Spurs said a club statement.

Ginobili originally suffered the injury in the (Phoenix) Spurs-Suns series in the 2008 NBA Play-offs.

The injury hampered him for the remainder of the post-season but after a rehabilitation program, the guard was cleared to play in the 2008 Olympics.

"I am going to undergo surgery but I would take the decision to play at the Olympics again,” Ginobili said.

"The ligament is as it was two months ago. It hasn´t improved but it hasn´t worsened.

"There is still no date set for the surgery. It´s something that has to be done and in these cases the recovery is from six to eight weeks.”

The Spurs said the surgery is expected to take place next week.

FIBA