Tams mainstay Knuttel injured

MANILA, Philippines - Far Eastern U will miss another player in Jens Knuttel when it takes on University of the East in their do-or-die match tomorrow for the other finals berth in the UAAP seniors basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

FEU coach Glenn Capacio yesterday said Knuttel sustained a torn meniscus in the Tams’ 74-84 defeat to the Warriors in the first game of their Final Four duel Thursday and will be out for the rest of the season.

“Jens (Knuttel) is out of the season because of a torn meniscus,” said Capacio.

Unlike ousted Mark Barroca, who had averages of 12.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.6 steals, Knuttel only normed 1.3 pts, 0.7 rebs and 0.6 assists but had been an effective point guard for the Tams in the season.

Although Pipo Noundou saw action for the Tams last Saturday after being sidelined by an ankle injury late in the elims, the Cameroonian rookie remained far from top form, finishing with five points, three rebounds, two assists and a shot block in 13 minutes of action.

“Pipo (Noundou) is still hurting and he’s not yet 100 percent. Hopefully by Thursday he will be okay,” Capacio said.         – Joey Villar