Benjie Paras facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Benjie Paras

Paras in 2010
No. 14
Personal information
Born	(1968-10-02) October 2, 1968 (age 56) Caloocan, Rizal, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
High school	San Beda (Manila)
Listed height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight	220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
College	UP
PBA Draft	1989 Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall
Selected by the Formula Shell
Pro career	1989–2003
Career history
As player:
1989–2002	Shell Turbo Chargers
2002–2003	San Miguel Beermen
As coach:
2012–2019	San Beda (assistant)
2019–2020	UP (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
As player: 4x PBA 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) 2x PABL Most Valuable Player (1988 International, 1988 Maharlika) As assistant coach: 6x NCAA champions (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018)
Medals Men's basketball Representing  Philippines Asian Games Silver 1990 Beijing team

Benjie Paras, born on October 2, 1968, is a famous Filipino actor and comedian. He was also a fantastic professional basketball player! He played for teams like the Shell Turbo Chargers and San Miguel Beermen in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Benjie is super special because he's the only PBA player ever to win both the Rookie of the Year award and the Most Valuable Player award in the same year. He was a star player, often leading his team, the Shell Turbo Chargers, to win championships.

Early Basketball Career

High School Basketball

Benjie Paras started playing basketball in high school. He was part of the San Beda Red Cubs team. He played alongside other future stars like Ronnie Magsanoc and Eric Altamirano.

College Basketball

After high school, Benjie played for the UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP league. In 1986, his team, the UP Fighting Maroons, won the championship! Benjie played with his high school teammates Magsanoc and Altamirano, plus Joey Guanio. Their coach was Joe Lipa.

Professional Basketball Career

Playing for Shell Turbo Chargers (1989–2002)

In 1989, Benjie Paras was chosen by the Shell Turbo Chargers in the PBA draft. He was nicknamed "The Tower of Power" because of his amazing skills. He was great at handling the ball, grabbing rebounds, shooting from mid-range, blocking shots, and scoring close to the basket.

Even though Shell didn't win a championship that year, Benjie's skills stood out. He won both the Rookie of the Year and the Most Valuable Player awards in his first season! As of 2025, he is still the only PBA player to have achieved this incredible feat.

In 1990, Benjie led Shell to win their first Open Conference title. They beat Anejo Rhum in a tough championship series. In 1992, Benjie and the Turbo Chargers won another title, defeating the San Miguel Beermen.

After 1992, Shell had some ups and downs. Benjie even took a break in 1993 to focus on his acting career. When he returned, the team worked hard to get back to the finals. In 1998, Shell faced the Mobiline Phone Pals in the Governor's Cup Finals. Shell came back from being behind in the series and won the championship in a thrilling Game 7.

In 1999, Benjie Paras continued to shine. He led Shell to another championship, this time against the Tanduay Rhum Makers. He played incredibly well against taller and stronger opponents. This was Benjie's last championship as a player. He also won his second MVP award in 1999.

Playing for San Miguel Beermen (2002–2003)

In the early 2000s, Benjie played fewer games due to injuries. In 2003, he decided to retire from basketball. However, he returned briefly later that year to play for the San Miguel Beermen before retiring for good at the end of the season. Benjie scored a total of 10,322 points in his 574 career games.

National Team Experience

Benjie Paras was also chosen to play for the Philippine national basketball team. In 1990, he helped the team win a silver medal at the 1990 Asian Games. They played well but came up short against China in the gold-medal game.

Coaching Career

In 2013, Benjie Paras returned to basketball as an assistant coach for the San Beda Red Lions. In 2014, he joined the PBA Legends Team, playing in the Asia Tour Singapore.

Acting and Entertainment Career

After retiring from basketball in 2003, Benjie Paras started a successful career as an actor and comedian. He has appeared in many local films and television shows.

He was in his first drama series, Narito Ang Puso Ko, on GMA Network. He also starred in the sitcom Lagot Ka, Isusumbong Kita. Benjie played the character Wahid in the fantasy series Encantadia. He also hosted the local version of Guinness Book of Records on ABC (now TV5).

Benjie has taken on different kinds of roles, including in Lupin and Fantastic Man. In 2007, he was part of the movie Resiklo with Bong Revilla. He also hosted the game show WinWinWin. He played Haring Dinggol in the fantasy series Kamandag.

He worked with Marvin Agustin and Jolina Magdangal in the comedy show Adik Sa'Yo. Benjie also appeared with boxer Manny Pacquiao in the sitcom Show Me Da Manny. He played a villain in The Last Prince and returned to comedy in Ang Yaman ni Lola. Benjie was also a challenger in the Christmas reality show Puso Ng Pasko: Artista Challenge. He played a pet detective in Bantatay and appeared in Spooky Nights Presents: The Ringtone. In 2012, he was in the fantasy series Alice Bungisngis And Her Wonder Walis.

Benjie Paras played the best friend of Vic Sotto in the movie Iskul Bukol 20 Years After. He was also the best friend of Vhong Navarro in the movie My Only U. In 2012, he returned to drama in the romantic series One True Love.

Personal Life

Benjie Paras is married to Lyxen Diomampo. They have two sons, Riley and Sam, and a daughter, Georja. Benjie also has two older sons from a previous marriage, Andre and Kobe. Both Andre and Kobe have followed in their father's footsteps and played basketball. They started playing for the La Salle Greenhills basketball team. Andre is also an actor at GMA 7. Kobe played college basketball in the US for Creighton University and California State University, Northridge. He also played for the UP Fighting Maroons and currently plays in Japan for Niigata Albirex BB.

Filmography

Television Shows

Movies

• Last Two Minutes (1989) - Benjie's first 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 first 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 first VIVA Films movie
• Lumayo Ka Nga sa Akin (2016)
• Dear Future Husband (2017)
• Barbi: D' Wonder Beki (2017)
• Mang Kepweng: Ang Lihim ng Bandanang Itim (2020)
• Hello Universe (2023)
• Sinagtala (2025)

Awards and Achievements

PBA Awards

• 4-time 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)
• One of PBA's 25 Greatest Players of All-Time

Philippine National Team Awards

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