The skipper was ruled out 24 hours before kickoff with a hamstring injury, but a day prior to that Kearney had insisted he was good to go despite reports saying otherwise.
Kearney says Tuivasa-Sheck completed Monday's training and at that point believed he would play.
A dire start for kiwi golfer Josh Geary to the latest European Tour event in Morocco.
Geary has carded a five-over 78 to be well off the pace in a share of 133rd.
The Wellington Saints have thumped the Southland Sharks in the New Zealand NBL.
In a rematch of last year's Grand Final, the Saints have won 126-102, with big-man Rob Loe scoring a team-high 24 points.
