The towering presence of Puerto Rican centre Jose Ortiz proved too much to handle last night as Puerto Rico scored an emotional 79-66 victory in the third-place game at the Americas qualifying tournament, shattering Canada's dreams of advancing to next summer's Olympic Games.

Only three teams advanced from the tournament to the 2004 Games in Athens. The United States and Argentina, who played in the Americas championship game last night, had already clinched spots. Canada has now been eliminated from three of four Olympic basketball tournaments, including the Athens Games.

The Canadian loss could also have been the last time that Steve Nash, the team's heart and soul over the past decade, played for Canada in an international competition. If so, he ended his run with distinction. He was selected last night as the tournament's most valuable player.

"This marks the end for some of us," said Canadian swingman Rowan Barrett, his eyes red from emotion. "I don't know if I'll ever see Steve Nash in a national team uniform again. I don't know if I'll ever be in a national team uniform again.

"Guys are getting on. It's a long summer. It's difficult to keep doing it year after year."

Nash, 29, of the Dallas Mavericks, is the only Canadian team member playing in the National Basketball Association. Without an Olympics to entice him back next summer, there is speculation that Nash's tenure with the national program has ended.

"I don't know," Nash said when asked about his national team future. "I'm not ready to think about that right now. I think it would be a little rash to decide what my future might be right now."