KEN Tuffin and the Taranaki Mountainairs are in a must-win situation in the New Zealand-National Basketball League as they face the Franklin Bulls in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
The Mountainairs ended up as the No. 4 seeds in the seven-team league with an 8-6 record.
The Bulls had a 7-7 record for fifth spot.
Taranaki lost three of their last four games, including a 65-92 rout at the hands of Franklin on July 23.
Leading Taranaki are Derone Raukawa, who averages league-leading numbers of 22.8 points and 7.6 assists, and big man Marcel Jones, who is the NZ-NBL's leading rebounder at 13.4 per game.
Tuffin, however, is struggling with 6.5 points in the last four games after a 10.7 average in the previous nine.
"I think the teams are starting to pay a lot of attention to me. I was a part of the other team's scouting report, trying to deny me and take me out of the game," said the 6-foot-4 Filipino-New Zealander.
"I came into this competition quite unknown so it was more of the fact that when I started to play more, they were able to figure out who I was and what I was capable of. I think it's just a credit to that.
"You know, games are always going to be like that, you have your good games and your bad games. Just looking forward to another opportunity tomorrow to bounce back and hopefully we can get it done."
Smart Communications will show the games live on its Facebook platform Smart Sports and on Cignal's One Sports HD.
"Obviously, all around the world as well with my friends and family from other countries. It's great that basketball is being played this moment obviously with the NBA in the Philippines back as well,” said the Far Eastern University senior.
“People have an opportunity to watch basketball. That's the thing. Hopefully, we can put on a show tomorrow."
Franklin, who fell to Taranaki in the first round of eliminations, 107-85, is led by the duo of Dominique Kelman-Poto (16.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg) and Isaac Davidson (15.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.6 apg).
"We've come up with a few things. Tomorrow is another opportunity to bounce back in that area and contribute more to the team that is more than just my defensive rebounding and put some points on the board as well. I feel like when I play well, the team reflects off my energy as well."
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