14 July, 2025
Vanuatu Beach Volleyball has again etched its place on the Pacific Mini Games winners list, continuing its uninterrupted presence on the podium, with the national women’s team again crowned ‘Queens of the Pacific’, after winning the gold medal at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau last week.
Having won gold at PMG in 2013 and 2017, then taking silver in 2022, the women’s pair of Bella Lawac and Sherysyn Toko have stepped up and once again secured the title of champions in Palau.
The Men’s team, Stivano Banga and Fletcher Abel, performed well as a new, less experienced pairing, making it to the Round of 12, but not being able to repeat the historic victory of 2022, where Banga with partner James Chilia, won Gold.
Sherysyn Toko and Majabelle Lawac started their run to the final with two strong matches in the Pool round, progressing straight through to the Finals rounds. Ultimately, the pair did not drop a set for the whole tournament.
POOL ROUNDS – Women
Team Vanuatu def NCL-Mampasse/Uedre 2-0 (21-9, 21-10);
Team Vanuatu def ASA-Fale/Misepeka 2-0 (21-8, 21-8);
QTR FINALS
Team Vanuatu def SOL-Donga/Eddy 2-0 (21-9, 21-8);
SEMI FINALS
Team Vanuatu def GUM-Mendiola/Serrano 2-0 (21-14, 21-14)
FINAL – Gold Medal
Undefeated, Sherysyn & Majabelle worked their way through the Gold Medal final.
Team Vanuatu def AUS-Mears/Rayner 2-0 (22-20, 21-18)
For the Men’s team, the story was one of rebuilding with a new combination, and with far less international game time than the Women’s team. Despite a slow start, two hard fought 3-set wins in the Pool round, over major rivals Tahiti and Solomon Islands, underlined the strong potential of this pairing and advancing them to the Round of 12 group. However, Stivano and Fletcher couldn’t repeat the feat of the earlier matches, coming up against a formidable pair from the Northern Marianas, who in fact went on to win the silver medal, losing to the Australian team in the Final.
POOL ROUNDS – Men
Team Vanuatu def by COK-Heath/Herman 0-2 (16-21, 18-21);
Team Vanuatu def TAH-Cary/Vaki 2-1 (21-19, 20-22, 15-13)
Team Vanuatu def SOL-Navere/Teriba 2-1 (21-12, 14-21, 15-10);
ROUND of 12
Team Vanuatu def by NMI-Johnson/Mister 0-2 (10-21, 16-21) 
The notable highlight of the Women’s win was that the Vanuatu coach, former national player and Pacific beach volleyball legend, Miller Pata, chalked up her first major international coaching win; adding to the many medals and accolades she received during her 17-year international playing career.
Miller’s coaching pathway has been supported by the FIVBs Volleyball Empowerment program for the past 2 years, under an ongoing coaching contract aimed at strengthening capacity and expanding opportunities for women in the sport.
Another highlight was the presence of the FIVB President, Fabio Azevedo, who attended the Games as a show of 
the strong support by the international federation for the development of volleyball in the Pacific, as well as being in Palau as part of the celebrations for the inaugural FIVB World Volleyball Day (7 July).
While the bulk of Team Vanuatu returned to Port Vila after the Games, the Women’s BV team has headed to Taipei, continuing their international competition responsibilities, to participate in the AVC Pingtung Open (17-20 July).
(Photos courtesy of VVF & VASANOC)
