PBA great Benjie Paras paid tribute to two coaching legends whose guidance, patience and trust transformed him to become one of the country's best players.

Paras, 56, praised the late Ato Badolato and Joe Lipa who he said were there for him when he was just beginning his basketball career, first as a high school player at San Beda under Badolato and then as a star for the University of the Philippines under Lipa.

“Two coaches na gusto kong pasalamatan for the reason why I am here at narating ko ito,” said Paras, during the first ever Basketbol Baliktanaw event at the Ortigas Foundation Library last Sunday.

“First is the late Ato Badolato, who introduced me to basketball. And of course, coach Joe Lipa naman na siyang nag-polish sa talent ko,” said Paras, whose achievement as Rookie-MVP on the same year remains unmatched to this day.

Lipa was in the audience as the veteran champion coach served as one of the resource persons during the whole-day affair made possible by well-known basketball memorabilia collector and Philippine cage history enthusiast Dr. Michael Rico Mesina.

PHOTO: jerome ascaño

Paras began his illustrious playing career at San Beda as part of Badolato’s successful junior program that saw him win an NCAA title in 1982 and a Metro Manila Basketball League championship in 1983.

Among his then junior teammates were Ronnie Magsanoc, Eric Altamirano, Dindo Pumaren, Gerry Esplana, and Macky De Joya.

He later played under Lipa at the University of the Philippines where the duo made history by lifting the Fighting Maroons to their first-ever UAAP men’s basketball crown in the post-war era in 1986.

With strong foundations instilled in him by the two coaches, Paras went on to carve a distinguished career in the pro league where he made history with his unprecedented awards of Rookie of the Year and MVP in 1989.

Paras, who became known as the "Tower of Power" because of his excellent use of his 6-4 height, which at that time made him one of the tallest PBA players, went on to win more accolades as a professional.

He won four PBA championships and one more MVP award while also being named five times as a Mythical Team Member. He was a three-time Second Mythical Team Member, a nine-time All-Star and two-time All-Star MVP, and recipient of a Best Player of the Conference award in a career that spanned from 1989 to 2003, first with with Formula Shell and then with San Miguel.

He was also named as one of the PBA 25 Greatest Players and inducted in the league’s Hall of Fame in 2013.

Post PBA, Paras entered showbusiness and became one of the top comedians in the country.

Paras and Lipa were among the panel of guests who attended the first Philippine basketball history and culture summit along with other PBA greats.

These include Bong Hawkins, Jeff Cariaso (current coach of Blackwater), Vince Hizon, Olympians Jimmy Mariano and Ed Roque, first ever PBA Rookie of the Year Gil Cortez, and NLEX coach and Gilas Pilipinas deputy Jong Uichico.

Other guests were Gilas women’s coach Patrick Aquino, women’s coach Julie Amos, sportscaster Sev Sarmenta, Michael Xiao Chua, Atty. Lawrence Gabato, Prof. Jose Maria Bonifacio Escoda and historian Jay P. Mercado.

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