"Pagod na rin ako. Iba na ang nararamdaman ko. Bugbog at hirap na ako," said Paras in his decision to retire at 34 and after playing 14 seasons in the league.
"Actually, malalakas ang kalaban ngayon. It would be either di ako makalaro ng maganda o di na rin ako gamitin ni coach (Perry Ronquillo), so mahirap na talaga," added the long-time Shell Tower of Power, who is one of only five multiple MVP winners in league history and among the 25 greatest players named during the league’s silver anniversary celebration in 2000.
Injuries took its toll on Paras the last three years, and it was so bad he only saw action in 44 games from 2000 to 2002 – 12 less than his total number of games the second time he won the MVP honors in 1999.
The only player to win the Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in a single season in 1989, the 6-foot-5 power-playing slotman had his worst stint last year when he was able to play only eight games.
Paras saw action in a total of 574 games in his career. Not counting the 2002 campaign, he collected 10,322 points, 4,402 rebounds, 1,822 assists, 1,323 blocks and 221 steals.
He narrowly missed the Magic 10 in the all-time scoring leaders, trailing Ramon Fernandez, Abet Guidaben, Alvin Patrimonio, Atoy Co, Philip Cezar, Bogs Adornado, Jojo Lastimosa, Robert Jaworski, Allan Caidic and Nelson Asaytono. Closely behind him at No. 12 is Batch 88 player Jerry Codiñera.
He is also No. 11 in rebounding behind Fernandez, Guidaben, Codiñera, Patrimonio, Cezar, Jaworski, Abe King, Yoyoy Vilamin, Terry Saldaña and Manny Victorino, and No. 3 in blocks behind only Fernandez and Cezar.
He’s among the Top 10 non-guards in the all-time assists ladder.
Actually, Paras still has a live contract with Shell – the only team he had played for in all his 14 seasons in the league. He’ll serve the remainder of his contract as a member of the Shell coaching staff.
Ronquillo had actually reserved a spot for Paras in their lineup for the coming PBA wars. With Paras making the decision, Ronquillo listed Chris Jackson, Edwin Bacani, Rensy Bajar, Ronald Tubid, Chris Calaguio, Eddie Laure, Frederick Canlas, Rainier Sison, Adonis Sta. Maria, Mike Hrabak and Dale Singson in his final roster.
Aside from Paras, Samboy Lim was the only other PBA star remembered for spending a long career for only one team. Alvin Patrimonio may well break Paras and Lim’s record with the four-time MVP set to play his 16th straight year with Purefoods.
Paras first made waves as a solid force in the middle for a star-studded San Beda high school team which also featured fellow future pros Eric Altamirano, Ronnie Magsanoc, Gerry Esplana and Macky de Joya.
He moved to UP in college, rejoining forces with Altamirano and Magsanoc as they powered the Maroons to their first ever UAAP crown in 1986.