Kiwi league semis game up

SMART Communications Inc. will bring a crucial New Zealand-national Basketball League game live on its Facebook platform Smart Sports and on Cignal’s One Sports HD on Wednesday.

The No. 4 seed Taranaki Mountainairs, sporting an 8-6 won-lost record in the elimination round, battles the 7-7 five-seed Franklin Bulls in a knockout match for the right to advance to the semifinals of the seven-team league.

The game will be shown live on One Sports while Smart Sports will also air the game live along with a pregame, halftime and post-game show hosted by 2OT’S Carlo Pamintuan and Magoo Marjon.

It’s win or go home time for Ken Tuffin and Taranaki. They lost three of their last four games, including a 65-92 rout at the hands of Franklin to cap their eliminations campaign last July 23.

Tuffin who averaged 10.78 points on 51 percent shooting and 5.67 rebounds in his first nine games with Taranaki, dipped to norms of 6.5 points on 32 percent shooting and 4.0 boards in their last four outings.

“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-kiwi swingman, who is an incoming super senior in Far Eastern University. Tuffin, however said, he will play inspired because of the coverage in the Philippines.

“It’s awesome. Hearing about that makes me want to give that extra, knowing that people will be watching and supporting from the Philippines,” the 23-year-old Tuffin said.