Elite 1 Horizon are the champions of the inaugural P.H.A.S.E 1 Elite 1 Caribbean Basketball League after defeating Elite 1 Storm 82-71 in the championship game at the National Arena in Kingston on Saturday.

In a rematch of the final preliminary round game which saw the Horizon win in a blowout on Wednesday, the Horizon once again used solid defensive effort to get the job done and end the tournament with a perfect 4-0 record.

Guard Bobby Gray was named man-of-the-match for his 26 points, four assists and four steals.

“This means everything. It’s the first one out here, so, it’s very big and I’m happy to be a part of it,” said Gray who was also named International MVP of the tournament.

“Happy that I was with a group of guys that bought in together and we won it,” he said.

The MVP award felt extra special, according to Gray.

“It means a lot man. I stopped playing basketball for a minute then I got back into it because I figured out I was coming out here. I know how much hard work I put in and now it’s all showing,” he said.

Gray’s teammate Nicholai Brown was named local MVP.

For the Storm, guard Joel Bailey led them in scoring with 23 points while also dishing out eight assists.

He put the loss down to an inability to take care of the basketball.

“Just turning over the ball the last couple minutes of the game. That cost us. We should’ve been more careful with the ball,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Elite 1 Rivers beat Elite 1 Waves 88-83 to secure third place.

Guard Patrick Robinson scored 20 points to help the Rivers exact revenge on the Waves who beat them in their final preliminary round outing on Wednesday.

Gemaal Davis led the Waves with 26 points and 10 rebounds.

It was a packed house at the National Arena in Kingston for the start of the P.H.A.S.E 1 Elite 1 Caribbean Basketball League on Saturday.

The day started with the Elite 1 Horizon recording a blowout 110-64 victory over Elite 1 Rivers thanks to a man-of-the-match performance from guard Bobby Gray, who dominated with 23 points and eight assists.

The game was close after the first quarter with the Horizon holding a 20-19 lead before they stretched the lead to 18 at the half, leading 49-31. Things got uglier after three quarters with the Horizon swelling the lead to 25, leading 84-49, before completing a dominant victory.

The second game saw Elite 1 Storm complete a 79-64 victory over Elite 1 Waves.

In a much closer encounter, the two teams battled throughout the first three quarters and were only separated by two points by the time the fourth quarter came around, with the Storm holding a 53-51 lead.

That fourth quarter, however, saw the Storm play very smart basketball to come away with the victory.

Guard Joel Bailey was voted man-of-the-match thanks to his 17 points, five rebounds and three steals. Teammate Drelan Tripplett also chipped in with 18 points and six assists.

The action continues Sunday when Elite 1 Horizon battle Elite 1 Waves in the first game and Elite 1 Storm face Elite 1 Rivers in the second.