MANILA, Philippines ? Jens Knuttle could've been playing in the NCAA instead or for Ateneo de Manila but he chose to stay loyal and spend his collegiate basketball stint with the Far Eastern U Tamaraws.

The half-German Knuttle starred for Ateneo de Zamboanga back in high school and was being recruited by San Beda College. But he turned the offer down and instead chose to transfer to FEU FERN then looking forward to play in the UAAP.

?After highschool, I opted to stay in FEU even if Ateneo de Manila wanted me to play for them because I owe to FEU whatever improvements in my game right now,? said Knuttle, who plays point guard for the Tamaraws.

FEU is touted as a title contender in the fortcoming UAAP season 72 after winning the FilOil Flying V pre-season tournament, beating defending champ University of the East.

Knuttle agrees on this forecast but believes the UAAP is yet another challenge for the Tamaraws, who will be bannered by Smart-Gilas national team mainstays Marc Barocca and JR Cawaling.

?We have affirmed our capability (in the FilOil Cup) but we still have to win UAAP to prove that we really are strong,? he said. Last season, he said, was an emotional struggle for the Tamaraws after Mac Baracael was shot late in the tournament, an incident rumored to be linked to game-fixing.

As a point guard, Knuttle considers himself not a scorer but more of a leader, orchestrating plays inside the court.

Now on his third year as Sports Science student, Knuttle says he is preparing for another season of basketball action by working out, eating right and taking enough rest.

The former FEU high school star says college basketball is definitely a lot different.

?In college, you will feel that there are lots of players better than you that?s why the challenge stays and it motivates me to strike harder in every game," said Knuttle. "Whatever happens, we will never give until the final buzzer sounds in every game."