Salvador Vilella can't help but think of what could have been when he watches Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony. The general manager of Puerto Rico's senior national basketball team wishes Anthony had chosen to play for his team.

Since Anthony visited Puerto Rico upon graduation from high school in 2002, Vilella has been aware of a little-known fact: Anthony is half Puerto Rican and half African-American. Anthony's father, Carmelo Iriate, was from Puerto Rico. He died of cancer when Anthony was 2.

Because of his father's Puerto Rican ties, Anthony is eligible to play for Puerto Rico during this summer's Olympic Games in Athens. But because Anthony can play for only one country during his Olympic career, he will pass on Puerto Rico in order to stay eligible for the United States team.

"Once you play for one country, that's it," Vilella said in a phone interview. "He would've been great. We were disappointed. We saw him play in the (2002) McDonald's All-America game, and the coaches all agreed that he has the skills. He was the missing link. But he has decided to play for the United States, and we understand."

If it were up to Anthony, he would play for Puerto Rico in this year's Olympics - if he didn't make the U.S. team - and for the USA later on. "I would do it if I could do both," he said.