Serbian basketball star Borisa Simanic’s participation in the 2023 FIBA World Cup has officially come to an end due to complications arising from a recent injury sustained during a game.
Recent developments suggest that the extent of his injury is more severe than initially feared.
During a recent matchup between Serbia and South Sudan last Thursday, Simanic suffered a significant injury in the kidney area with less than two minutes remaining in the game, necessitating his early exit.
Subsequently, the 25-year-old was promptly transported to a hospital in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, where he underwent surgery overnight.
Reports from Sportskeeda reveal that the Casademont Zaragoza standout experienced severe bleeding, a fact confirmed by coach Svetislav Pesic, making it challenging to secure the necessary blood supply.
Initially, the Serbian Basketball Federation stated that Simanic’s kidney and its functions were preserved.
However, the latest information contradicts this claim. According to As Telegraf, the Serbian player has lost one of his kidneys, definitively ruling him out for the remainder of the tournament.
Serbia is scheduled to face Lithuania, another formidable European team, this coming Thursday.
In the tournament, the European nation has accumulated four victories and suffered only one defeat, a narrow 78-76 loss to Italy during the second round.