ANAHEIM, Calif. – Propelled by the torrid riding of their No. 1 draft pick Jose Vitor Leme, theAustin Gamblers went an undefeated 2-0 inside the Honda Center to win the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series competition in Anaheim, California.
On Friday night, the Gamblers defeated the Nashville Stampede by one ride score, 175.25-86.75, and tonight they edged the Kansas City Outlaws, 171.50 - 171.25.
Leme, who contributed critical qualified rides both nights, is now 7-for-10 on the season and leads the league’s MVP race.
The Austin Gamblers (4-3) also overtook the Ridge Riders (4-3) for the No. 2 rank in the early 2022 PBR Team Series season standings.
The PBR Team Series will next travel to Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, for the Nashville Stampede’s homestand event on Friday, August 19 at 7:45 p.m. P.T., Saturday, August 20 at 6:45 p.m. P.T. and Sunday, August 21.
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.
Ariat Texas Rattlers: 171.75
Arizona Ridge Riders: 168.50
The Ariat Texas Rattlers are snakebitten no more.
After a disappointing loss on Friday night to the Oklahoma Freedom, the Rattlers edged the The Ridge Riders, 171.75-168.50.
The Ridge Riders third-round draft pick Eduardo Aparecido (Gouvelandia, Brazil) was the first man out of the chutes for a no-score buckoff aboard Happy Hour (Hawkins Bucking Bulls).
Having put up the Rattlers only score from Friday night, Brady Oleson (Blackfoot, Idaho) climbed aboard September Rain (Hawkins Bucking Bulls).
As Head Coach Cody Lambert gave him last minute encouragement, Oleson rocketed from the chutes again, collecting an 84.75-point score for the team.
The Ridge Riders continued to fall short as free agent Paulo Lima (Bezerros, Brazil) bucked off Rusty Bones (Julio Moreno/ Bar CB).
Cody Jesus (Window Rock, Arizona), the Rattlers first-round draft trade, continued his strong season (4-for-7), conquering Harold’s Genuine Risk (M Rafter E Bucking Bulls) for 87 points, putting the Rattlers up two bulls.
Free agent Keyshawn Whitehorse (McCracken Spring, Utah), who joined the Ridge Riders mid-summer, broke the ice for Arizona with 83.25 points aboard Wild Child (M Rafter E Bucking Bulls).
The scoreboard remained unchanged through the conclusion of the fourth frame.
In the fifth, the first-round draft pick of the Ridge Riders climbed aboard WSM’s Sun Country (WSM Auctioneers/ Clay Struve/ Dakota Rodeo/ Chad Berger). Luciano De Castro’s 85.25-point score was not enough to pull the Arizona team into the lead.
Although Rattlers’ last rider of the game, Rafael Jose de Brito (Potirendaba, Brazil), bucked off, Texas (2-5) had already clinched the win over the Ridge Riders (4-3).
“This win feels a lot better than all of the losses we have had,” said Ariat Texas Rattlers Head Coach Cody Lambert.
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media