TAANE Samuel made sure that Ken Tuffin won't have a chance for the title as Manawatu slipped past Taranaki, 105-95, to advance to the Grand Finals of the 2020 Sal's NBL Showdown Thursday at The Trusts Arena in Auckland.
The former La Salle big man was playing on a different level as he powered the Jets with 23 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
Samuel triggered Manawatu's 12-0 pullaway to turn the game from a 75-73 deficit to a commanding 10-point lead, 85-75, with 6:15 remaining.
Derone Raukawa tried his best to help the Mountainairs roar back, but Thomas Vodanovich and Hyrum Harris slammed the door on the Airs late.
Vodanovich, the 2020 NZ NBL MVP, topscored for Manawatu with 28 points and seven rebounds, while Harris stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, 11 boards, seven assists, and seven steals in the victory.
Jayden Bezzant also nabbed 17 points, five assists, three steals, and two rebounds as the Jets arrange a championship clash against the Otago Nuggets on Saturday.
It was a tough defeat for Taranaki, who banked on Raukawa, who tallied 32 points, five boards, five dimes, and two steals.
Tuffin ended his maiden campaign in the semi-pro league with six points on a 2-of-6 shooting from deep, as well as collecting a rebound, an assist, and a steal.
"We probably could have executed better," rued Tuffin. "The Jets are a tough squad, they have a lot of good players and I think maybe on defense, our defense let us down out there. They went on a bit of a run. There's nothing much we can do now."
Marcel Jones notched 25 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists, while Shane Temara had 13 points and five boards in the exit.
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