Even before Benjie Paras began his legendary career in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), he had already amassed a significant list of championships and individual awards.
Paras, now known as the “Tower of Power,” led the San Beda Red Cubs to four straight NCAA titles in the juniors division, earning back-to-back Most Valuable Player awards in his last two years with the team.
During his rookie year in the UAAP, UP coach Joe Lipa hailed him as the “missing link” to the Fighting Maroons’ first-ever postwar championship in 1986.
In his final conference with the Philippine Amateur Basketball League (PABL) team Philip’s Sardines, he spearheaded their journey to their only title in the 1988 Maharlika Cup.
The photo below shows a young Benjie Paras alongside actress Julia Vega at the Our Lady of Sacred Heart School in Quezon City.
