Manu Ginobili could be wearing an Argentina uniform for the final time Sunday.
Ginobili and Argentina can celebrate the probable end of their "golden generation" of basketball stars with another medal as they face Russia for the bronze at the North Greenwich Arena.
There are five players left from the Argentina squad that captured gold in Athens in 2004 and bronze in Beijing four years later.
Sunday's game could represent one last chance for that group of Ginobili, Andres Nocioni, Luis Scola, Carlos Delfino and Leo Gutierrez to earn another Olympic medal.
"It's probably going to be one of the highlights of my career, this group,'' Ginobili said. "I'm very proud of representing my country with these guys. We are trying to make our legend even bigger by getting another medal. Once it's over and we go home with the bronze on our chests, we'll talk about it and see how it feels.''
Ginobili spoke candidly after Argentina's 109-83 semifinal loss to the United States on Friday about how this could be the last time he plays for his country.
"A lot of things can happen. I'm 35. I know the chances are less every year, but I can't say I am retiring because I don't know,'' Ginobili said.
Argentina pulled within four early in the second half Friday before the United States took control in the third consecutive Olympic semifinal meeting between those nations.
Ginobili led Argentina with 18 points while Scola and Delfino each scored 15.
"We had a great run in the first half,'' Ginobili said. "We started the third very well. And then we blinked.''
The second half also proved decisive for Russia in its 67-59 loss to Spain. The Russians led 31-20 at the break before a flurry of turnovers hampered their chances.
"We kind of started falling down,'' forward Andrei Kirilenko said. "We lost our composure. We just stopped executing."
Russia has not won a basketball medal since the 1988 Soviet Union team captured gold in Seoul in the last competition before the inclusion of NBA players. A unified team comprised of athletes from former republics of the Soviet Union lost the bronze-medal game to Lithuania in Barcelona four years later.
Ginobili is second in the tournament in scoring with a 19.1 average while making all 31 free throws. Scola is third at 19.0 points per game.
Kirilenko is seventh with a 17.1 average, but only scored 10 on 2-of-12 shooting Friday. His 33.9 minutes per game lead all players.
Argentina is second in points per game (87.6) while Russia leads the competition in scoring defense (71.4 ppg) and field-goal percent defense (39.3).
Both teams are shooting 47.9 percent, with only the U.S. higher at 52.8.
Argentina beat Russia 73-61 in the consolation round of the world championships two years ago - the teams' last meeting in a major tournament - as Scola led all scorers with 27 points. Ginobili and Kirilenko were not with their teams for that meeting.
