Russia forward Andrei Kirilenko said Sunday that it's no bad thing if his country is drawn in the same group as the all-conquering Americans for the Olympic basketball tournament.
The Russians secured one of the last three remaining berths in the competition earlier Sunday by reaching the final of the qualifying event in Venezuela, beating Nigeria 85-77.
The draw for London is made Monday, when the 12-team lineup is complete.
It will see Russia either put into Group A with the United States, Tunisia, Argentina and France, or Group B, alongside host Britain, Brazil, Australia, Spain and China.
The former Utah Jazz forward said he would welcome facing the 13-time Olympic champion U.S. team early on.
"I'm not interested at all in which group we will play at the Olympics, especially because if you play with the Americans in one group, it's for the better - then we won't meet in the quarterfinal," said Kirilenko, who top-scored against Nigeria with 19 points and eight rebounds.
Lithuania, the other finalist in Venezuela, is also awaiting its fate, along with one of Nigeria and the Dominican Republic, who lock horns later Sunday for the last remaining berth.
Russia, which has never won an Olympic medal, leaves Venezuela as a possible London podium contender, having beaten South Korea 91-56, the Dominican Republic 84-69 and Angola 80-65.
Kirilenko, on Russia's roster since 2000, won the 2007 Eurobasket with his country and was the part of the team that finished third at the 2011 tournament.
