Justine Jazareno announces pregnancy, takes leave of absence from PVL

Akari Chargers’ Justine Jazareño. –PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Justine Jazareno is taking a leave of absence from the Akari Chargers in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season as she is expecting her first child.

VP Global Management on Thursday announced that the 23-year-old libero is pregnant with her first child with her longtime partner Jhonas.  The management also said that the Chargers have been supportive of Jazareno as she is set to embark on a new chapter in her life as a mother.

“We’re excited to share that our volleyball star, Ms. Justine Jazareno, is eagerly anticipating the joys of motherhood. She has made the decision to take a leave of absence from the game to focus on her forthcoming bundle of joy,” VP Global Management wrote in a statement.

“We thank the Akari Chargers for fully expressing their continued support as she embarks on this beautiful journey.  As we eagerly await Justine’s triumphant return to the Akari Chargers, let us send her and her longtime partner Jhonas our warmest wishes as they embark on this new and exciting chapter of their lives.”

Jazareno started playing for Akari in the second All-Filipino Conference of the 2023 season, where the Chargers had their best finish so far with a 5-6 record in seventh place.

The star libero represented the De La Salle Lady Spikers in the last three UAAP seasons with back-to-back finals appearances in the past two years, helping the team exact sweet revenge on the National University Lady Bulldogs to end a five-year title drought in the Season 85 finals.

Jazareno opted to turn pro to support the needs of her family last September, following the footsteps of her La Salle teammate Fifi Sharma.

As Jazareno will miss the 2024 season, veteran libero Bang Pineda will take care of Akari’s floor.

Akari signed Grethcel Soltones and Ced Domingo to reinforce Faith Nisperos, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Sharma, and Michelle Cobb in its bid to reach the PVL Final Four for the first time. The Chargers also promoted Raffy Mosuela as interim coach and tapped Tina Salak as deputy and Nxled coach Taka Minowa as program director after Jorge Souza de Brito’s departure.