LONDON (2015 FIBA Oceania Championship) - The New Zealand Tall Blacks gave Paul Henare a victory on his coaching debut at the weekend with an 84-63 friendly triumph over Great Britain at the Copperbox in London.

Corey Webster, one of the leading players at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, had 32 points to lead the Kiwis as they defeated a British team that was giving Drew Sullivan his 100th cap.

Some of the wind was let out of the team's sails, however, on Monday when Basketball New Zealand announced that Oklahoma City Thunder center Steve Adams will not play for the national team this summer in their FIBA Oceania Championship battle against Australia.

The winner of the two-game series will clinch a spot in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games while the loser will play in next year's FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT).

According to Basketball New Zealand, Adams said that he would not be able to join the Tall Blacks until very late in the tour, mainly due to scheduling conflicts over the coming months and his commitment to being ready for the start of the 2015-16 regular season with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

"Adams believes it would not be right to join the team so late in the campaign, so will not be available to take on the Australian Boomers in the Oceania Series in August," Basketball New Zealand said.

The Tall Blacks will still have a very good and confident team to square off against the Boomers, one that includes several players who made it to the Round of 16 at last year's World Cup.

Among them was Everard Bartlett and he was in fine fettle against the Brits on Saturday, scoring 15 points off the bench.

Bartlett, a 2.03m forward, impressed Henare.

"Corey obviously played very well and did so despite coming in for some close attention, but I also have to mention Everard," Henare said.

"I don't often single out individuals but he gave us great punch in his role off the bench."

"When Corey sat down, Everard came in and kept us rolling in that second half. - Henare

Another Tall Black to shine last year was Isaac Fotu and following a strong season in Spain's Liga Endesa with Manresa, the 2.03m forward looked as good as ever against the British with 10 points, 16 rebounds and six assists.

It marked a happy homecoming of sorts for Fotu, who was born in York, England, in 1993.

The Tall Blacks have not given up hope that the 2.13m pivot Adams, who turns 22 on Tuesday, will play for the team, possibly next summer.

"He is a world class player and would add plenty to our group, just as we believe the Tall Blacks environment will offer plenty to Steve," Henare said.

"We have enjoyed good open dialogue with him throughout and feel that we have now established a level of communication that has both parties comfortable looking into the future.

"However, we also understand his position and the changes that have occurred at OKC in recent months, changes that have meant he must pay closer attention to what is happening in the States and for now Steve has reluctantly made the call not to join us.

"Our door is always open however and we look forward to continuing to build on the relationship with Steve and OKC to enable him to pull on the black singlet sooner rather than later."

Next up for New Zealand will be a friendly away to Croatia on Wednesday and then Slovenia on Thursday.

Both Croatia and Slovenia are getting ready for EuroBasket 2015.

FIBA