Benjie Paras

Venancio Johnson Paras Jr. (born October 2, 1968), better known as Benjie Paras, is a Filipino actor, comedian, and a retired professional basketball player who played for Shell Turbo Chargers and San Miguel Beermen of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

In 1986, the UP Fighting Maroons won the championship.

Paras played with Magsanoc, Altamirano, Joey Guanio, and future UP champion head coach Goldwin Monteverde under the guidance of Joe Lipa.

He is the only PBA player to win both Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player honors, in a single season (1989).

As its star center, Paras led the Shell Turbo Chargers to championship titles.

Paras played with the San Beda Red Cubs together with Ronnie Magsanoc and Eric Altamirano.

Paras played for the UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP.

Drafted by the Shell Turbo Chargers 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.

Paras would win his 2nd MVP since 1989.

In 1990, Paras would lead Shell to their first Open Conference title by defeating Anejo Rhum in a championship series that finished in 6 games, the climax featured a walkout by Anejo players.

Paras was also selected to play in the 1990 Asian Games Basketball Team that won the silver medal, but the team came up short against China in the gold-medal match.

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 featured Rudy 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 the San 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 team Anejo 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 the 1993 PBA Commissioner's Cup, the team never made it back to the Finals until the 1996 Commissioner's Cup, thanks in part to import Kenny Redfield and supporting casts such as Peter Naron, Richie Ticzon, Victor Pablo, and Jojo Lim.

In 1996, they battled the grandslam seeking Alaska 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 the Mobiline Phone Pals.

In a one-game title showdown, Shell came up short.

Paras would get his revenge thanks to the help of Noy Castillo and Gerry 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-Am Eric Menk and the deported Sonny 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.

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.

Paras retired in 2003, ending his 14-year career with the Philippine Basketball Association and became an actor.

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 in Narito Ang Puso Ko, his first drama series on GMA Network, he also appeared in a former sitcom, Lagot Ka, Isusumbong Kita, a weekly sitcom by GMA and also starred in Encantadia, as the Ascano barbarian, Wahid.

In 2013, Paras returned to basketball as an assistant coach for the San Beda Red Lions.

In 2014, Paras became one of the members of the PBA Legends Team that played in Asia Tour Singapore.

Paras, as of 2020, is the only PBA player to have done this feat.