Ken Tuffin and Taranaki ended their two-game skid, romping Otago, 107-81, during the 2020 Sal’s NZ-NBL Showdown’s Filipino Heritage Night at the Trusts Arena in Auckland.
Down seven heading into the second half, the Mountainairs unleashed a 37-point blitz to blow the Nuggets out of the building.
Tuffin, an FEU Tamaraw, fired seven of his 15 points during that spurt. He also tallied five rebounds and two steals.
It was all Taranaki from there, as it led by as much as 27 points, 102-75 with 3:35 left.
Enderun standout Francis Mulvihill also had a stellar game, finishing with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting.
UE guard Richie Rodger, who started the contest, had seven points in the losing cause.
Derone Raukawa led Taranaki with 23 points, six assists, and four rebounds, while Marcel Jones added 18 rebounds and 15 points.
Jordan Ngatai paced Otawa with 22 markers.
Taranaki will have a four-day break before facing Manawatu on July 5.
