Paras returns as a Beerman

Benjie Paras came out of retirement as the former Shell franchise player, whose No. 14 jersey has been retired by Shell officials in a brief ceremony at halftime of the team’s game early this year, signed up with San Miguel Beer yesterday.

The 6-foot-4 former UP King Maroon, a two-time PBA MVP awardee, inked a two-month contract with the Beermen. He’ll start practising with the team today and play his first game in San Miguel’s date versus Alaska Milk next Friday.

Before joining the Beermen, Paras, who spent all the first 14 seasons of his pro career with Shell, had become a member of the touring San Miguel Beer North All-Star team.

At San Miguel, Paras will wear the No. 14 for a while since San Miguel officials plan to retire Hector Calma’s (No. 14), Samboy Lim’s (No. 9) and Allan Caidic’s (No. 8) numbers soon.

"Dapat nai-retire na ang mga numbers na iyon, kaya lang pangit ang timing dahil napagtatalo ang Ginebra," said one official.