In Tuffin’s Instagram post on Monday, he disclosed his decision to forego his last playing year with the Morayta-based squad and build on his career in the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL).

“With the recent cancellation of UAAP Season 83 and after much thought and discussion over the last few weeks, I’ve come to the decision to forego my final playing year in FEU and instead play here in the NZNBL for a season,” he wrote.

“This decision was hard for me but in times of uncertainty, I felt the need to do what’s best for me and have some certainty about what I’m doing right now.”

The 6-foot-5 sniper was intent on playing his last year with the Tamaraws even as he suited up for the Taranaki Mountainairs last season.

There, he recorded an average of 9.2 points on 43-percent shooting from rainbow country, with 4.3 rebounds in 23.6 minutes through 15 games as Taranaki entered the semis of the 2020 Sal’s NBL Showdown.

His excellent performance in the league allowed him to be shortlisted in the Tall Blacks’ pool for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.

He was previously named as a part of coach Chot Reyes’ “23-for-2023” Gilas cadets list.

The Fil-Kiwi Tuffin said that for now, he will be concentrating on his career in New Zealand. But this new opportunity doesn’t mean the PBA isn’t in his game plans as he is eyeing to join the next draft.

“The end goal remains the PBA and I’m targeting to join the 2022 PBA Draft,” he said in an interview.

The Tamaraws skipper posted 7.5 points on a 39-percent clip from threes, on top of 3.7 rebounds in 19 minutes of action during UAAP Season 82.