No Ginobili vs Gilas in World Cup?

MANILA, Philippines -- Gilas Pilipinas may face a toothless Argentina team in the FIBA World Cup.

Argentina's most decorated player Manu Ginobili may skip the tournament with a right leg injury The Associated Press reported on Friday.

The San Antonio Spurs say Ginobili has a stress fracture of the lower fibula of his right leg.

Ginobili though remains optimistic that he can join the national team in Spain.

"I'm an optimist, I think the injury will heal and that four weeks is enough time," Ginobili told Argentina's Telam news agency.

"I want to play in the World Cup, at the age of nearly 37 .... If I don't play this year, it's unlikely I'll be back," he added.

Ginobili is looking at July 25 as deadline of his decision on whether to play or to skip the World Cup.

The San Antonio veteran bounced back from a lackluster NBA Finals last year to help the Spurs beat Miami Heat in fives games in their rematch last month. The Argentine star averaged 14.4 points on his way to his fourth NBA championship.

Gilas Pilipinas is scheduled to face Argentina on Sept. 1.

Argentina will have to lean on Indiana Pacers forward Luis Scola in the event Ginobili skips the World Cup. Their other NBA player Carlos Delfino is still awaiting medical clearance from the Milwaukee Bucks to play in Spain after recovering from a foot injury that sidelined him the entire NBA season.

Argentina and Gilas Pilipinas are bunched together with Greece, Puerto Rico, Senegal and Croatia in Group B.