IN the gold-medal game of the 2022 Pacific Mini Games beach volleyball event, the NMI’s Andrew Johnson and Logan Mister lost to Vanuatu’s James Chilia and Stivano Banga in a hard-fought match, 19-21, 21-10, 15-13, on Friday at the Crowne Plaza Resort beach.
It was an exciting men’s division finale, as the NMI and Vanuatu gave it their all from start to finish.
In the first set, both teams fought as equals with several lead exchanges. Johnson and Mister’s were in sync as they covered each other’s backs while mixing things on offense with quick spikes to catch Vanuatu off-guard.
Chilia and Banga defended with constant blocks and powerful spikes, but the NMI duo stayed on their toes long enough to notch the first set, 21-19.
In the second set, Chilia and Banga managed to set the tone early with a 13-8 lead. And with smarter placements and speed changes, Vanuatu allowed only two more NMI points before clinching the win, 21-10, to force a third and final set.
The NMI tried to reestablish dominance early in the third set with a two-point lead, but Vanuatu’s persistency paid off as they eventually took over, 6-4.
The back-and-forth battle continued with neither team able to gain control.
With the score tied at 13-13, Chilia and Banga stepped up their game and caught Johnson and Mister off-guard with a soft tip over the net as Vanuatu took a one-point lead.
Chilia and Banga then bagged the final point after the NMI failed to control the ball, giving Vanuatu a 15-13 victory and the gold medal.
The NMI’s Andrew Johnson and Logan Mister won the silver medal in the men’s beach volleyball event of the 2022 Pacific Mini Games at the Crowne Plaza Resort beach on Friday.
Vanuatu’s James Chilia dives for the save during the beach volleyball championship match against the NMI.
