Elie Mechantaf


Elie Mechantaf is a retired Lebanese professional basketball player.
He started his basketball career in the Cypriot Basketball League, before becoming the captain of the Lebanese Hekmeh BC basketball club, winning the Lebanese Championship for 6 consecutive seasons from 1998 to 2004. Mechantaf was also the team captain of the Lebanon National Basketball Team from 2000 to 2006, also taking part in the 2002 [FIBA World Championship] in Indianapolis. He retired in 2008.
Now Mchantaf is encouraging basketball in Lebanon through founding his own official club M13.

Career

Mechantaf was born in Abra, the son of Rafiq and Samia Mechantaf. He studied in the South in Saidoun High School, then moved to Beirut and later to Italy where he lived a year.
After graduation, he returned to Lebanon and became a player in Club Aamal Bikfaya in 1993. In 1994 he became the captain of Hekmeh BC dominating the Lebanese Basketball League winning FIBA Asia club championships.
The FLB formed the Lebanese National Basketball Team, where Mechantaf started as the captain of the national side. Mechantaf took part in the 2002 Basketball World Cup in Indianapolis.
He was excluded from the national team in 2006 World Championship in Japan due to alleged doping.
He continued playing with Hekmeh until 2007, when he signed with Champville SC becoming the captain of the team. He returned to Hekmeh for a final season in 2008 before retiring.

Records and accolades