KEN Tuffin and the rest of the Wellington Saints will now shift their attention to their title retention bid this upcoming 2022 New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) season starting in April.
This comes after the decision of Basketball New Zealand to cancel the Schick 3x3 Cup in February altogether still due to the rise of COVID-19 cases in the country.
The halfcourt tournament was supposed to be held from Feb. 10 to 12 at ILT Stadium Southland with Tuffin tasked to lead the rally for Wellington.
Tuffin was set to team up with Filipino-New Zealander Francis Mulvihill, as well as Quintin Bailey and Emmerson Potts-Broughton.
The 3x3 tournament was originally set in October before being moved to December and eventually in February before its eventual scrapping.
Ken Tuffin and the Saints gear up for the new NBL season.
"At the end of the day we have to do what’s best for the players and the teams. We don’t want to put anyone at potential risk of getting – and spreading – Covid and then having to isolate for a long period away from home,” said NZ NBL general manager Huw Beynon.
Wellington will start its season on the road when it plays the Manawatu Jets at Fly Palmy Arena on April 8; the Hawke's Bay Hawks at Pettigrew Green Arena on April 10 in a rematch of last year's finals; and the Canterbury Rams on April 15 at Cowles Stadium.
The Saints make their home debut at TSB Bank Arena on April 16 against the Nelson Giants.
New Zealand currently has 1,289 active COVID-19 cases as the country aims to curb the sudden rise of positive tests by once again enforcing strict travel restrictions.
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