MANILA – Apart from fulfilling his childhood dream, Kenneth Tuffin is using his stint in a semi-professional basketball league in New Zealand to toughen up for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
The Far Eastern University Tamaraws forward said he will use this opportunity to play for New Zealand’s National Basketball League (NBL) to gain experience when he returns to UAAP and when he jumps to the professional ranks.
“It was a dream growing up for me to play here (in New Zealand). The end goal is to play professionally. I would love to play in the PBA, of course,” Tuffin said in an interview with The Prospect’s Pod.
He added: “It would mean a lot, as well, to my family in the Philippines to have someone from my mom’s side of the family to make it to the PBA . And it would be really proud for them to have something like that as well.”
Tuffin was selected in the seventh round of the NBL draft by the Taranaki Mountainairs squad weeks ago. He has played with the team for five games and is averaging 14.5 points and 4.5 rebounds.
“Just progress individually as a player and do whatever I can to help my team win. I’d always be like that,” Tuffin said. “I aim to grow as much as I can as the season progresses.”/PN
