Kenneth Tuffin
Kenneth James Diocares Tuffin is a Filipino-New Zealand basketball player for the Phoenix Fuel Masters of the Philippine Basketball Association.
Early life and education
Tuffin was born on 5 May 1997 in New Zealand, spending his childhood in Wellington. As a child, Tuffin had watched games of the New Zealand National Basketball League and his father used to take him to basketball games.For his high school studies, Tuffin attended St. Patrick's College in Upper Hutt. He was widely involved in his high school's academic program, playing for St Patrick's basketball, cricket, and rugby teams.
He moved to the Philippines at age 18 to pursue collegiate studies at the Far Eastern University in Manila.
Collegiate career
Tuffin played for the FEU Tamaraws basketball team which played at the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. FEU did not finish outside the Final Four, in all seasons that Tuffin played. In Season 82, Tuffin was made captain of the Tamaraws.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.He planned to play professionally after he graduated from FEU to potentially play in the Philippine Basketball Association. 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.