MANILA -- Serbia's Borisa Simanic has undergone surgery to remove a kidney after being injured at the Basketball World Cup.
Simanic had an operation in a Manila hospital after being hit by a South Sudan player's elbow during a pool game on August 30.
Complications arising from the operation meant he had to have further surgery on September 3, when one of his kidneys was removed, the team said Monday.
Serbian team doctor Dragan Radovanovic said that they "expect and wish that after this operation, the postoperative course will go smoothly".
The incident occurred near the end of Serbia's first-round game against South Sudan, when Simanic was defending opposition player Nuni Omot under the Serbia basket.
Omot caught Simanic with an elbow, causing Simanic to scream in pain and immediately wheel away.
The 25-year-old Simanic plays for Zaragoza in Spain.
In a statement, the South Sudan Basketball Federation called the incident "unintentional and unfortunate."
The player involved in the play, Nuni Omot, said he was "deeply saddened by the news of Simanic's injuries."
"As a sportsman, I firsthand understand the severity of his situation, and I am deeply sorry that this happened. No player should have to go through that. I pray for Simanic's recovery and speedy return to the court," said Omot, who was not called for a foul on the play.
The South Sudan federation said that Omot has been subjected to racism and harassment due to the incident.
"We condemn any sort of racism directed towards the player. Basketball is a sport that is recognized to bring people together rather than be used as a tool of prejudice," the federation said.
Serbia went on to advance to the semifinals of the World Cup after routing Lithuania, 87-68, on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
South Sudan, meanwhile, is headed to the Olympic Games in Paris next year after finishing as the highest-ranked African team in the tournament.
Agence France-Presse
