ANAHEIM, Calif. – A battle of two first-place unbeatens and the surprising shutout of a high-flying team highlighted the start of the second and final neutral site event for the inaugural 2022 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series season, Friday night in Anaheim.
After a homestand upset just one week ago, the Kansas City Outlaws recovered with an energetic shutout against the Carolina Cowboys as the third event of the 2022 PBR Team Series season began.
In a battle down to the final two rides, the Oklahoma Freedom edged the Ariat Texas Rattlers with a game-ending score from rookie Casey Roberts, recording the team’s second win of the season.
Led by two-time PBR World Champion Jose Vitor Leme dominating a great bull, the Austin Gamblers surged to the top of the weekend event standings with a two-ride victory over the Nashville Stampede.
Channeling their winning moves from the inaugural PBR Team Series event in Cheyenne, Wyoming, the Missouri Thunder reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the 2022 Team standings after dominating the Arizona Ridge Riders in a landslide game.
The PBR Team Series event from Anaheim continues Saturday, August 13 at 6:45 p.m. P.T. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the box office or online at PBR.com, or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727.
PBR RidePass on Pluto TV will offer replays of all the PBR Team Series action from Anaheim. Fans can also tune in to a special doubleheader of the CBS Game of the Week on Sunday, August 14 at 1:30 pm ET (check local listings). Click here for the latest programming schedule.
Austin Gamblers: 175.25
Nashville Stampede: 86.75
The Austin Gamblers’ first-round draft pick, two-time PBR World Champion Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil), who is 6-for-8 on the season, continues to prove why he’s the league’s No. 1 draft pick as he secured his team’s third game win of the season.
As the clash between the fourth and fifth place teams began, Leme’s teammate Ezekiel Mitchell (Rockdale, Texas) was the first to put points on the board after his energetic matchup with Hell Storm (Julio Moreno/Bar CB) for 86.25 points.
As Mitchell danced off the dirt, 2018 PBR World Champion Kaique Pacheco (Itatiba, Brazil) prepared for his matchup with Good Night Robicheaux (Diamond Willow/ Clay Struve/ Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger). When last the two met in January of 2021, Pacheco walked away victorious.
Friday night’s matchup did not go as smoothly, as the muscular animal athlete stutter-stepped then jolted the former world champion to the dirt after 5.83 seconds.
With the scoreboard then remaining unchanged throughout the second, third and fourth frames, all eyes turned to Leme in the bottom of the fifth.
In a must-ride situation, the former world champion kept his team atop the leaderboard, riding Tijuana Two Step (M Rafter E Bucking Bulls) for 89 points and staying No. 1 in the 2022 PBR Team Series’ MVP race.
Despite knowing that the Gamblers had already swept the night, Nashville’s third-round draft pick Ryan Dirteater (Hulbert, Oklahoma) did not lose focus as the last ride of the game. Matched with Ponotoc (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger), the veteran rider battled hard for eight full seconds and bested the powerful animal athlete for 86.75 points.
The Austin Gamblers (3-3) will look for their fourth game win of the season on Saturday when they take on the Kansas City Outlaws (2-4), while the Nashville Stampede (2-4) will go head-to-head with the Oklahoma Freedom (2-4).
“The team really needed that after last weekend, after a few disappointments,” said Gamblers’ Head Coach Michael Gaffney. “I am very pleased for Jose, a guy like him always steps in there and huts that last homer for the team and brings everybody in. It feels really good and gives us some momentum in this game, we needed this win.”
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media