As assistant coach: 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).

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

He also flexed his acting muscles by playing offbeat roles in Lupin (as Richard Gutierrez's gay inmate) and Fantastic Man (as one of Mark Herras' villains).

In late 2007, he became one of main casts in Ramon "Bong" Revilla's movie, Resiklo, which is an entry in Metro Manila Film Festival.

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 with Marvin Agustin and Jolina Magdangal.