Kenneth Tuffin
Filipino-New Zealand basketball player
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kenneth James Diocares Tuffin[1] (born 5 May 1997) is a Filipino-New Zealand basketball player for the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
| No. 20 – Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters | |
|---|---|
| Position | Small forward / shooting guard |
| League | PBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | 5 May 1997 Wellington, New Zealand |
| Nationality | Filipino / New Zealand |
| Listed height | 194 cm (6 ft 4 in) |
| Career information | |
| High school | St Patrick's College, Silverstream |
| College | FEU (2016–2019) |
| PBA draft | 2023: 1st round, 6th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters |
| Playing career | 2020–present |
| Career history | |
| 2020 | Taranaki Mountainairs |
| 2021–2023 | Wellington Saints |
| 2023–present | Phoenix Fuel Masters / Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters |
| Career highlights | |
Early life and education
Tuffin was born on 5 May 1997[2] in New Zealand, spending his childhood in Wellington. As a child, Tuffin had watched games of the New Zealand National Basketball League[3] and his father used to take him to basketball games.[4]
For his high school studies, Tuffin attended St. Patrick's College in Upper Hutt.[5] He was widely involved in his high school's academic program, playing for St Patrick's basketball, cricket, and rugby teams.[6]
He moved to the Philippines at age 18 to pursue collegiate studies at the Far Eastern University in Manila.[3]
Collegiate career
Tuffin played for the FEU Tamaraws basketball team which played at the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).[3] FEU did not finish outside the Final Four, in all seasons that Tuffin played (Season 79 to 82; 2016–2019).[5] In Season 82, Tuffin was made captain of the Tamaraws.[7]
Professional career
New Zealand
Taranaki Mountaineers (2020)
Tuffin was the 44th overall selection in New Zealand NBL for the 2020 season. He was selected by the Taranaki Mountainairs. Prior to the draft, Tuffin secured consent from FEU to play in the NBL and joined the league as an amateur player.[8]
He planned to play professionally after he graduated from FEU to potentially play in the Philippine Basketball Association.[9][10] However in December 2020, he decided to forego his final year of eligibility to play for FEU after UAAP Season 83's cancellation and decided to turn professional.[11]
Wellington Saints (2021–2023)
After suiting up for the Taranaki Mountaineers, Tuffin moved to the Wellington Saints for the 2021 season.[12] Tuffin was acquired by Wellington after the team decided to skip the 2020 season.[13][14] He continued on with the Saints in 2022[15] and 2023.[16]
Philippines
Phoenix Fuel Masters (2023–present)
In 2023, he returned to the Philippines and applied for the PBA season 48 draft,[17] where he was selected sixth overall by the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters. On October 2, 2023, he signed a three-year rookie contract with the team.[18]
Career statistics
PBA
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | MPG | Minutes per game | FG% | Field-goal percentage |
| 3FG% | 3-point field-goal percentage | 4P% | 4-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
As of the end of 2024–25 season[19]
Season-by-season averages
| Year | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | 4P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | Phoenix Super LPG / Phoenix | 28 | 30.7 | .425 | .352 | — | .647 | 5.0 | 1.8 | .6 | .1 | 10.7 |
| 2024–25 | Phoenix | 33 | 22.6 | .509 | .421 | — | .813 | 4.3 | .9 | .5 | .1 | 7.9 |
| Career | 61 | 26.3 | .460 | .377 | — | .727 | 4.6 | 1.3 | .6 | .1 | 9.2 | |
NZNBL
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | MPG | Minutes per game | ||
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
Season-by-season averages
| Year | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Taranaki | 15 | 23.6 | .450 | .431 | .938 | 4.3 | .9 | .7 | .2 | 9.2 |
| 2021 | Wellington | 20 | 22.8 | .496 | .493 | .737 | 3.3 | .8 | 1.2 | .1 | 8.4 |
| 2022 | Wellington | 19 | 22.9 | .403 | .378 | .750 | 2.7 | 1.0 | .8 | .1 | 8.2 |
| 2023 | Wellington | 19 | 14.0 | .379 | .324 | .900 | 2.0 | .6 | .7 | .1 | 3.7 |
| Career | 73 | 20.7 | .437 | .417 | .808 | 3.0 | .8 | .9 | .1 | 7.3 | |
National team career
Tuffin is eligible to play for the national teams of the Philippines and New Zealand. He is among the 23 youths included in the Philippines' #23for23 pool of players for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.[20] He was also included in New Zealand's pool for the 2020 Summer Olympics and the 2022 Commonwealth Games.[21]
Personal life
Tuffin's mother was born in Rosario, La Union, and has relatives living in the provinces of Pampanga and Pangasinan.[10]