Serbian basketball player Boriša Simanić has kidney removed after injury at FIBA World Cup

Serbian men's basketball player Boriša Simanić underwent an emergency surgery Sunday − his šaSimanićsecond in less than a week − to remove a kidney after he sustained an elbow to the midsection at the FIBA World Cup in Manila.

Kosarkaski Savez Srbije, the Serbian Basketball Federation, announced the emergency surgery Monday in a statement from team doctor Dragan Radovanović.

The injury occurred in a group stage match Wednesday, the federation said, during Serbia's 115-83 victory over South Sudan. According to ESPN, the injury occurred when South Sudan's Nuni Omot elbowed Simanić, who immediately fell to the court in pain.

Simanić underwent surgery overnight and he remained in the Makati Medical Center in Manila for observation. Simanić, however, faced complications resulting from the first surgery and the determination was made to have the second procedure to remove the entire kidney.

"Due to the appearance of complications on the injured kidney that occurred in the postoperative course, Boriša Simanić was operated on again on September 3," Radovanović said, according to a translation of a statement. "Due to changes in kidney tissue vitality, the entire kidney had to be surgically removed. We expect and wish that after this operation, the post-operative course will go smoothly."

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According to ESPN, Serbian coach Svetislav Pesic said there was an issue finding Simanić's blood type and that several of Simanić's teammates offered to donate blood.

Omot apologized for the play that resulted in the injury.

"My apologies, I didn't mean to make no type of a dirty play," Omot said, per ESPN. "I hope you have a speedy recovery. I pray for you, you'll be in my prayers. I'm not a dirty player, I've never been a dirty player. From the bottom of my heart, I sincerely apologize to everyone that's watching and to the player especially."

Simanić is a 25-year-old forward for the Serbian team. The national team has advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals and is scheduled to play Lithuania Tuesday. The Serbian side has placed a jersey with Simanić's No. 28 on an empty chair on the team's bench during the team's last two games, according to ESPN.