Tuffin, Samuel winners in Wellington debut as Saints drub Otago Nuggets

Dion Prewster led the Saints' triumphant NZ NBL return.

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Wellington opened its NZ NBL campaign on a rage as the team took down Otago, 95-73, at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin, New Zealand on Saturday.

Banking on a hot scoring spree in the first quarter, the Saints turned to their defense in the next two periods to zap the Nuggets on the road in the showdown pitting the league's last two champions.

Dion Prewster led Wellington, the 2019 champs but took the 2020 off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with 31 points, five rebounds, seven assists, and one steal.

Kerwin Roach added 19 markers, three boards, two dimes, and four steals.

Taane Samuel, who previously played for La Salle in UAAP Season 82 before turning pro, made nine points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal in a start for Wellington.

Former Far Eastern University standout and current Gilas cadet Ken Tuffin, on the other hand, tallied five markers, three boards, and two steals off the bench.

Isaiah Moss got 20 points, six rebounds, one assist, and one steal for Otago, the defending NZ NBL champion.

Box Scores:

Wellington 95-Prewster 31, Roach 19, Smith-Milner 9, Samuel 9, Vaigafa 7, Gill 6, McLean 6, Tuffin 5, Robinson 3, Miller-Jose 0

Otago 73-Moss 20, Timmins 18, Aitcheson 14, McKay 5, Knox 3, Rodger 2, Momoisea 2, McBirney-Griffin 2, Ahie 2, Andrew 2, Coman 2, Roydhouse 1

Quarterscores: 31-24, 57-38, 80-54, 95-73

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