Serbian power forward Borisa Simanić lost a kidney due to an injury suffered during Wednesday’s victory over South Sudan at the FIBA World Cup.
The Serbian Basketball Federation announced this on Monday underwent a second operation on Sunday requiring the removal of the injured kidney.
“Due to changes in renal tissue vitality, the entire kidney had to be surgically removed,” reads the statement of team doctor Dragan Radovanovićthrough translation.
Simanić appeared to suffer the injury while defending the post during the World Cup match in Manila, Philippines. The video shows Simanić bending over in pain after being elbowed in the abdomen by Sudan’s Nuni Omot, as Omot made a move under the basket.
Simanić left the game and initially required surgery that night. The team announced that there were complications this weekend that required the second surgery and the removal of the injured kidney.
Head coach Svetislav Pesic told reporters that Simanić was bleeding profusely, but that the surgery “ended well”.
“It was a huge shock to all of us,” Pesic told Basket News. “We could not have expected such a blow to be not only painful but also tragic. It’s good that it’s over.
“The team was together all night, they were looking for extra blood because they couldn’t collect enough because Borisa was bleeding a lot. It ended well.”
Serbian striker Nikola Milutinov spoke to reporters on Monday about his injured teammate.
“It was very difficult for us when we heard what had happened,” Milutinov told reporters. “First of all, we didn’t believe it was that bad. It really affected us. We are really praying for him to get better as soon as possible.”
Omot apologized and wished Simanić’s health after Wednesday’s game.
“I heard he ended up going to the hospital,” Omot told reporters. My apologies, I didn’t mean to make a foul play. I hope you get a speedy recovery. I pray for you, you will be in my prayers,” he said.
“I’m not a dirty player, I’ve never been a dirty player. From the bottom of my heart I sincerely apologize to everyone watching and especially to the player.”
Simanić played a limited role from the bench at 6.5 minutes per game in three appearances before his injury. Serbia have played two matches since Simanić’s injury, a defeat to Italy on Friday and a victory over the Dominican Republic on Sunday to advance to the quarter-finals of the World Cup, where they face Lithuania on Tuesday.
