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Benjie Paras

Paras in 2010
Personal information
Born	(1968-10-02)October 2, 1968 (age 57) Caloocan,Rizal, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Listed height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight	220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school	San Beda (Manila)
College	UP
PBA draft	1989: 1st round,1st overall
Drafted by	Formula Shell
Playing career	1989–2003
Position	Center
Number	14
Career history
Playing
1989–2002	Shell Turbo Chargers
2002–2003	San Miguel Beermen
Coaching
2012–2019	San Beda (assistant)
2019–2020	UP (assistant)
Career highlights
As player: 4xPBA champion (1990 First,1992 First,1998 Governors',1999 All-Filipino) 2×PBA Most Valuable Player (1989,1999) PBA Rookie of the Year (1989) PBA Comeback Player of the Year (1999) PBA Best Player of the Conference (1999 Commissioner's) PBA Finals Most Valuable Player (1998 Governors') 5×PBA Mythical First Team (1989–1991,1995,1999) 3×PBA Mythical Second Team (1992,1994,1996) 9×PBA All-Star (1989,1990,1991,1992,1994,1995,1996,1999,2000) 2×PBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player (1994,1999) PBA Slam Dunk Team Co-champion (1995) PBA Hall of Famer (Class of 2013) 50 Greatest Players in PBA History (2000 selection) PABL champion (1988 Maharlika) 2xPABL Most Valuable Player (1988 International, 1988 Maharlika) As assistant coach: 6xNCAA champions (2012,2013,2014,2016,2017,2018)
Medals Men'sbasketball RepresentingPhilippines Asian Games 1990 Beijing team

Venancio Johnson Paras Jr. (born October 2, 1968), better known asBenjie Paras, is a Filipino actor, comedian, and retired professional basketball player who played for theShell Turbo Chargers andSan Miguel Beermen of thePhilippine Basketball Association (PBA). He is the only PBA player to win bothRookie of the Year andMost Valuable Player honors, in asingle season. As its star center, Paras led the Shell Turbo Chargers to championship titles.

Paras played with the San Beda Red Cubs together withRonnie Magsanoc andEric Altamirano.

Paras played for theUP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP. In1986, the UP Fighting Maroons won the championship. Paras played with Magsanoc, Altamirano, Joey Guanio, and future UP champion head coachGoldwin Monteverde under the guidance ofJoe Lipa.^[1][2]

Drafted by theShell Turbo Chargers^[3] in 1989, Paras, aptly nicknamed "The Tower of Power", played in the PBA with ball-handling, powerful rebounding, deft mid-range shooting, well-timed shot blocks and the uncanny ability for inside scoring. Although Shell did not win any titles that season, these abilities overshadowed even the most skilled of players and because of these he not only took Rookie of the Year, but also became its Most Valuable Player.^[4] Paras, as of 2020, is the only PBA player to have done this feat.

In 1990, Paras would lead Shell to their first Open Conference title by defeatingAnejo Rhum in a championship series^[5] that finished in 6 games, the climax featured a walkout by Anejo players. In 1991, Shell and Ginebra would meet again in the Finals of the Reinforced Conference. Paras and the Turbo Chargers seemed poised to beat the Gins once again after taking a commanding 3–1 lead, but the Gins made a dramatic rally and coming back from the 3–1 deficit and winning the title in a classic Game 7 encounter that featuredRudy Distrito's game winner.

In 1992, Paras and the rejuvenated Turbo Chargers, now with Leo Isaac and Rey Cuenco, led Shell to another title, winning it over theSan Miguel Beermen. After the 1992 title, Paras and Shell would show inconsistencies as it flirted to the cellars in several occasions. This was also capped with a controversy back in 1993 when Paras sat out for one conference after a contract dispute with Shell that prompted him to demand a trade deal to rival teamAnejo Rhum. But after Shell rejected trade offers for their prized center, he decided to concentrate on his movie and TV career. After Paras came back to the team in the1993 PBA Commissioner's Cup, the team never made it back to the Finals until the1996 Commissioner's Cup, thanks in part to importKenny Redfield and supporting casts such asPeter Naron,Richie Ticzon,Victor Pablo, andJojo Lim. In 1996, they battled thegrandslam seekingAlaska Aces, then known as the Alaska Milkmen, in an unbelievable seven-game series which Alaska won. Paras was also a contender to win the MVP in the 1996 season of the PBA.

Paras would then re-enter the Finals 2 years later in the Centennial Cup Finals, this time meeting theMobiline Phone Pals. In a one-game title showdown, Shell came up short. Paras would get his revenge thanks to the help ofNoy Castillo andGerry Esplana as the rematch was set for the Governor's Cup Finals of the PBA against Mobiline. Shell came back after trailing the series 3 games to 2. Shell and Mobiline battled into a gruelling 7 games until Shell prevailed due to timely baskets by Paras and Esplana.

In 1999, Paras dominated the Filipino-American laden PBA by leading Shell to another Finals appearance, this time against Tanduay Rhum Makers bannered by Fil-AmEric Menk and the deportedSonny Alvarado. Paras held his own against the two taller, stronger and more athletic Fil-Ams as he led Shell to another title winning it 4–2. That would be Paras' last title, as his team was unable to stop the San Miguel Beermen in the title showdown for the Commissioner's Cup. Paras would win his 2nd MVP since 1989.

During the 2000s, Paras played in 44 games and had ongoing injuries. In 2003, Paras ended his basketball career. However, he returned later in the year, suiting up for San Miguel Beer before retiring once again at the end of the season. Paras accumulated 10,322 career points throughout his 574 games.^[6]

Paras was also selected to play in the1990 Asian GamesBasketball Team that won the silver medal, but the team came up short againstChina in the gold-medal match.

In 2013, Paras returned to basketball as an assistant coach for theSan Beda Red Lions.^[7] In 2014, Paras became one of the members of the PBA Legends Team that played in Asia Tour Singapore.^[8]

Paras retired in 2003, ending his 14-year career with the Philippine Basketball Association and became an actor.^[9] He recently played for NBA Asia Challenge in 2011 with his fellow former and current PBA Stars and NBA Stars.

He has acted in local films and television shows. He appeared inNarito Ang Puso Ko, his first drama series onGMA Network, he also appeared in a former sitcom,Lagot Ka, Isusumbong Kita, a weeklysitcom by GMA and also starred inEncantadia, as the Ascano barbarian,Wahid. He was also the host ofABC's local version ofGuinness Book of Records. He also flexed his acting muscles by playing offbeat roles inLupin (as Richard Gutierrez's gay inmate) andFantastic Man (as one of Mark Herras' villains). In late 2007, he became one of main casts inRamon "Bong" Revilla's movie,Resiklo, which is an entry inMetro Manila Film Festival. He was also the main host for the short-lived late night ABC 5 (now TV5) game show,WinWinWin. In November 2007, he was cast as one of the fictional characters for Richard Gutierrez's former fantaserye on GMA 7,Kamandag, as Haring Dinggol, king of the human-apes. Paras recently finished his GMA 7 comedy teleserye,Adik Sa'Yo withMarvin Agustin andJolina Magdangal. Benjie Paras also worked with boxerManny Pacquiao in a GMA 7 Sitcom,Show Me Da Manny. Paras was back again on GMA Telebabad for the role as a villain in a recent drama-fantaserye,The Last Prince. Benjie returns to comedy via a reality comedy show,Ang Yaman ni Lola. Benjie returns once again in a 1st Christmas reality show and is now included in a newest GMA 7 Christmas reality show,Puso Ng Pasko: Artista Challenge which he was a challenger. Benjie returns to drama again viaBantatay which he playsJace Ventura, a pet detective. Benjie is now on his former show a horror-comedy anthology,Spooky Nights Presents: The Ringtone. Benjie returns to comedy again and his 4th fantaseryeAlice Bungisngis And Her Wonder Walis in 2012.

Paras played as the best friend ofVic Sotto in the movieIskul Bukol 20 Years After (Adventures of Vic Ungasis and the Escalera Brothers) and the best friend ofVhong Navarro's best friend in the movieMy Only U.

In mid-2012, Benjie Paras returned to the drama again in a romantic teleseryeOne True Love.

Paras is married to Lyxen Diomampo, a former pre-school teacher and commercial model. They have two sons, Riley and Sam, and a daughter, Georja. Paras had two sons^[10] from a previous marriage,Andre andKobe;^[11] both have basketball careers and started playing forLa Salle Greenhills basketball team in grade school. André is also an actor atGMA 7, while Kobe played in the USNCAA Division I having played collegiate ball for theCreighton University in Omaha, Nebraska,^[12] theCalifornia State University, Northridge.^[13] and forUP Fighting Maroons.^[14] Kobe currently plays forNiigata Albirex BB in Japan.

• Last Two Minutes (1989) - Benjie's Debut Movie
• May Isang Tsuper Ng Taxi (1990)
• Bulag, Pipi at Bingi (1993)
• Dunkin Donato (1993)
• Mga Siyanong Parak (1993)
• Greggy en' Boogie: Sakyan mo na lang, Anna (1994)
• Exodus: Tales from the Enchanted Kingdom (2005) - Benjie's 1st Action Movie
• Resiklo (Imus Productions, 2007)
• My Best Friend's Girlfriend (2008)
• My Only Ü (Star Cinema, 2008)
• Iskul Bukol 20 Years After (2008)
• Wapakman (2009)
• Ang Panday (2009)
• Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote (2010)
• Ang Panday 2 (2011)
• My Lady Boss (2013)
• Ibong Adarna: The Pinoy Adventure (2014)
• Past Tense (2014)
• Papa's Boy (2015)
• Wang Fam (2015) - Benjie's 1st VIVA Films Movie
• Lumayo Ka Nga sa Akin (2016) - post production
• Dear Future Husband (2017) - post production
• Barbi: D' Wonder Beki (2017)
• Mang Kepweng: Ang Lihim ng Bandanang Itim (2020)
• Hello Universe (2023)
• Sinagtala (2025)

• 4x PBA Champion (1990, 1992, 1998 & 1999)
• 2-time Most Valuable Player (1989 & 1999)
• Rookie of the Year (1989)
• 5-time Mythical First Team Selection (1989, 1990, 1991, 1995 & 1999)
• 3-time Mythical Second Team Selection (1992, 1994 & 1996)
• Best Player of the Conference (1999 Commissioner's Cup)
• Comeback Player of the Year (1999)
• Eight-time PBA All-Star
• 2-time PBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player (1994 & 1999)
• PBA's 25 Greatest Players of All-Time

• Member of the 1990 Asian Games national team (silver medal)

• SMB Recharged
• Benjie Paras atIMDb
• Sparkle GMA Artist Center profile

• 1968 births
• Living people
• 21st-century Filipino male actors
• Asian Games silver medalists for the Philippines
• Asian Games basketball players for the Philippines
• Basketball players at the 1990 Asian Games
• Centers (basketball)
• Filipino male comedians
• Filipino male television actors
• Filipino television sportscasters
• GMA Network (company) people
• ABS-CBN people
• Radio Philippines Network personalities
• TV5 Network people
• Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation personalities
• People's Television Network people
• Medalists at the 1990 Asian Games
• People from Santa Mesa
• Philippine Basketball Association All-Stars
• Philippine Basketball Association players with retired numbers
• Philippines men's national basketball team players
• Filipino men's basketball players
• San Miguel Beermen players
• Shell Turbo Chargers players
• Basketball players from Manila
• UP Fighting Maroons men's basketball players
• Shell Turbo Chargers draft picks
• Filipino male film actors
• Actors from Caloocan
• Filipino NBA commentators
• 20th-century Filipino sportsmen
• Asian Games silver medalists in basketball

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• BLP articles lacking sources from January 2013
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• Use Philippine English from December 2022
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