LAS VEGAS (AP) — Kung inaakala ng bagong henerasyon na wala nang kabuluhan sa koponan si Luis Scola, isa itong pagkakamali.

Bilang pagkilala sa katapatan ni Scola sa Argentinian basketball team, ipinahayag ng Argentinian Olympics body na ang NBA veteran ang kanilang napiling maging flag-bearer sa opening ceremony ng Rio Olympics.

“I try not to do it because it’s like, I think, kind of holds me down a little bit, but sometimes I stop for a minute and I look back and it’s just, wow,” sambit ni Scola, nalalabing beterano sa koponan na nilisan ng mas batang player kapalit ang mas malalaking kontrata sa pro league.

Makakaharap ng Argentina ang Team USA sa isang exhibition game sa Sabado.

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“I had the chance to play four Olympics, to play 10 years in the NBA, to carry the flag for my country, win an Olympic gold medal. I mean, different things that happened along those days that I couldn’t even dream of those because it would be too wild to dream. So it’s been quite a journey, it’s been quite a ride,” aniya.

Nagsimula siya sa national team noong 1998 at bahagi ng matagumpay na kampanya sa 2004 Olympics, bronze sa 2008, silver medal sa 2002 world at naging ranked No. 1 sa isang pagkakataon.

Si Manu Ginobili ang pinakasikat na Argentinian player bilang bahagi ng apat na kampeonato ng NBA, subalit si Scola ang tinitingala ng kabataan pagdating sa National team.

“His career with the national team is just unbelievable,” sambit ni Ginobili.

“He’s played every tournament there was to play, and every single one of them at a very high level. So Luis is our guy. He’s our main guy, especially since we don’t have a lot of size. We need him in the paint. He’s been the most reliable guy ever.”