More than being a mother and a pro volleyball player, Justine Jazareno is also balancing her time with her thesis at De La Salle University.
Months after giving birth to first her first-born son, Justine Jazareno made her long-awaited return for the Akari Chargers in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Unfortunately for Jazareno, the Chargers bowed to the PLDT High Speed Hitters in straight sets, 22-25, 16-25, 15-25, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig on Saturday, January 18.
This also marked Akari’s first match against PLDT since their controversial match in the 2024 Reinforced Conference semifinals, which the Chargers won to barge into their first Finals appearance.
Now back with the team, the promising libero is finding her way back into game shape.
“Overwhelming siya kasi ang tagal ko rin nawala eh, almost one year din. Siyempre naninibago pa rin ako but on the process,” Jazareno told reporters.
“I really have be disciplined sa pagkain, sa tulog, and then sa workout talaga. Talagang pinaghirapan ko para makabalik ako sa game ulit,” she added.
But more than just being an athlete, the 24-year-old is also balancing her life as a mother—while also finishing her thesis in Bachelor of Early Childhood Education at DLSU.
“Siguro time management lang. Sa morning hanggang afternoon parang training kami and then I spend time with my baby rin naman after. Also nag-thesis din ako pero I have to manage my time talaga,” said Jazareno.
As she restarts her PVL career, the former Lady Spiker has been getting all the motivation she needs with the birth of her baby boy.
“Siguro more on mas nadagdagan siya ng inspiration. After training uuwi ka, feeling mo pagod ka, pero pag-uwi mo di ka pagod. 'Yun lang 'yung naging additional sa akin,” she emphasized.
Jazareno will look to improve on her first game back as the Chargers aim to bounce back against the Nxled Chameleons on Thursday, January 23 at the Philsports Arena.