FORMER national beach volleyball rep Apenisa Saukuru was instrumental in helping his Chips I beat Topline I 3-2 in the feature match of the University of the South Pacific Islanders Volleyball Association weekly competition yesterday.
Playing at the National Netball Centre, the teams in the competition found it hard to adjust playing outdoors because their usual venue, the Indoors Gym at USP is under renovations.
Experience proved to be the difference between Chips and Topline yesterday, with Saukuru named the man of the match by USPIVA secretary Mereaia Belo.
She also applauded national beach volleyball squad member Sakiusa Naivana's efforts for the Topline side.
"He (Saukuru) worked very hard and was the main man that led Chips to victory," Belo said.
"In the Topline teams, Sakiusa Naivana was the inspiration for his side but could not help them win," she said.
The two teams had met in the finals of the season opening knockout tournament late last month.
"Topline has won the first set and then it was a back and forth affair but Chips had the last laugh when they won the deciding set.
"Meanwhile, the teams found it hard to play under the sun as they are used to playing indoors and that was a factor that led to close wins today (yesterday)," Belo said.