ANAHEIM, Calif. – For the second consecutive year, the Austin Gamblers stood on the dirt victorious inside the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, going a perfect 2-0 in gameplay and winning the PBR Camping World Team Series event on Sunday afternoon after their franchise player, Jose Vitor Leme, delivered a monstrous 91-point score in extra outs.
The Gamblers, the 2022 PBR Teams regular-season champions, remain undefeated (7-0) in 2023.
“This team is amazing,” shouted an ecstatic JJ Gottsch, CEO of the Austin Gamblers. “And when I say team, I mean the entire team. Jose is the best in the world, but this entire team is awesome. Everybody on this team had a role in this victory this weekend, and I am so happy for them.”
In Teams and individual competition, Leme, the 2022 Teams MVP, is now 12-for-15 with four wins inside Honda Center.
As competition got underway on Saturday night in Southern California, the Gamblers defeated the Carolina Cowboys by a whopping 175.75 points, 263.5-87.75.
Continuing the electric showing on Sunday afternoon, the Gamblers were entangled in an intense slugfest with the previous weekend’s event winners, the Kansas City Outlaws. While the amped-up Outlaws, looking to win their fifth straight game, set the tone right out of the chutes, the Gamblers fired back each time. Both teams had four qualified rides in one of the most exciting games of the season.
Calling upon Koltin Hevalow to take a re-ride for Kyler Oliver, the Outlaws were prepared for battle in their final out of the Sunday game. Netting 88.25 points to reclaim the lead for Kansas City, 342.23-256.75, fans went to full volume as Austin Richardson readied to take Adriano Salgado’s re-ride for Austin. Netting an 89.25 monstrous score, he clinched the walk-off win for the Gamblers, 346-342.25
Austin concluded PBR Camping World Team Series in Anaheim with a perfect record and entered extra outs to determine the event winner against the Oklahoma Freedom, who also went 2-0.
As the event in Anaheim began, Oklahoma edged the Missouri Thunder by one point, 89.25-88.25.
When competition continued on Sunday afternoon, the Freedom and the Nashville Stampede went head-to-head. Courtesy of an 84.75-point ride from Alex Cerqueria, Oklahoma took and kept the lead, shutting out the Stampede 84.75-0 for their second game win of the weekend.
As extra outs began, the Gamblers earned the first pick by having the higher aggregate score in Anaheim. The team looked to Leme aboard Brusta (Joe & Nina Webb/ Julian/ D&H Cattle Co), while the Freedom tapped Thiago Salgado to attempt July (Leffew Bucking Bulls).
Salgado began extra outs with a 7.3-second buckoff, opening the door for Leme to once again secure a win for the Gamblers. The two-time PBR World Champion matched Brusta jump-for-jump, scoring 91 points to cement the weekend win. The score was Leme’s second 90-point ride of the 2023 PBR Teams season and his third inside the Honda Center in his career.
Austin improved to 7-0 thus far in 2023 and held tight at No. 1 in the league. The Oklahoma Freedom, now 5-2, sit at No. 3 in the league standings, one game behind the No. 2 Carolina Cowboys.
PBR RidePass on Pluto TV will offer replays of all the PBR Camping World Team Series action from Kansas City, Missouri. Check https://pluto.tv/en/live-tv/pbr-ridepass for the latest programming schedule.
The PBR Camping World Team Series will next travel to Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, for the second annual Stampede Days homestand event for the Nashville Stampede. The event will be on Friday, Aug. 18, at 7:45 CDT, Saturday, Aug. 19, at 6:45 p.m. PDT and Sunday, Aug. 20, at 1:45 p.m. PDT.
The game matchups for the opening night of competition in Nashville on Aug. 18 are:
Kansas City Outlaws @ Texas Rattlers
Carolina Cowboys @ Oklahoma Freedom
Arizona Ridge Riders @ Austin Gamblers
Missouri Thunder @ Nashville Stampede
ANAHEIM TEAM STANDINGS:
Here are the final Team standings for the PBR Camping World Team Series event in Anaheim.
Austin Gamblers, 2-0-0-609.5
Oklahoma Freedom, 2-0-0-174
KansasCity Outlaws, 1-1-0-518.25
Texas Rattlers, 1-1-0-261.75
Carolina Cowboys, 1-1-0-261.25
Missouri Thunder, 1-1-0-173
Arizona Ridge Riders, 0-2-0-256
Nashville Stampede, 0-2-0-174.75
PBR TEAM SERIES SEASON STANDINGS:
Here are the current Team standings for the regular season after the conclusion of competition at the PBR Camping World Team Series in Anaheim:
Austin Gamblers, 7-0-0-1395.25
Carolina Cowboys, 5-2-0-1139.25
Oklahoma Freedom, 5-2-0-507.5
Kansas CityOutlaws, 4-3-0-1132.75
Texas Rattlers, 3-4-0-1130.5
Missouri Thunder, 2-5-0-608.75
Arizona Ridge Riders, 0-7-0-610
Nashville Stampede, 0-7-0-430.5
SCORE BULLETINS
Missouri Thunder Collect Win in Matchup Against Arizona Ridge Riders on Final Day of PBR Camping World Team Series Competition in Anaheim
Missouri Thunder: 84.75
Arizona Ridge Riders: 83.75
The Missouri Thunder finished the final night of PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Team Series action in Anaheim with a win in their Sunday matchup with the Arizona Ridge Riders courtesy of a one-point lead.
Arizona’s Vitor Losnake (Bauru, Brazil) was called upon as Sunday’s opener for the Ridge Riders but failed to convert in the leadoff out aboard Bout Time (Diamond Bar Cattle/ L&B Bucking Bulls), losing his seat at 4.18 seconds. Missouri’s Felipe Furlan (Sales Oliveira, Brazil) tried to strike early but was no match for Dr. Feel Good (M Rafter E Bucking Bulls).
The second frame then featured a turnaround for the Arizona group when Colten Fritzlan (Rifle, Colorado) made the 8 aboard Brown Bomber (Culp Bucking Bulls) for 83.75 points. Missouri did not add to their scoreboard in the bottom of the frame as Marcelo Procopio Pereira (Rinopolis, Brazil) was bested by Lone Star (Diamond Bar Cattle) in a heartbreaking 3.96 seconds.
Ridge Rider Chase Dougherty (Decatur, Texas) readied on the chutes, prepared to add another score to Arizona’s lead in the third frame. The lanky Texan ultimately went 1-for-2 on his weekend as he was dispatched just before the 8 seconds Carlos Danger (Farris Cattle/ Big Schott Rodeo). Coaches Paulo Crimber and Colby Yates instantly challenged the call to see if Dougherty still had hold of the bull rope as the whistle sounded. The replay showed he did not, resulting in no score. In the bottom of the third frame, Joao Lucas Campos (Porto Feliz, Brazil) was able to conquer Domino (D&H Cattle Co./ Buck Cattle) for Missouri to the tune of 84.75 points to put the team’s first numbers on the board.
Keyshawn Whitehorse (McCracken Spring, Utah) was then unable to secure a score on Dippin’ Dot (M Rafter E Bucking Bulls) as the fourth frame started, so Arizona’s score remained unchanged. Missouri then stumbled in the bottom of the fourth as Andrew Alvidrez (Seminole, Texas) was prematurely tossed by Yount’s Brody’s Pet (Farris Cattle/ Big Schott Rodeo) in 3.14 seconds.
As the fifth frame got underway, Arizona selected reigning PBR Canada Champion, Nick Tetz (Calgary, Alberta, Canada), as their closer. In a must-ride, make-or-break-it moment, JAG Metals Grand Theft (D&H Cattle / Phillip Elkins) fired out of the chutes, slamming Tetz to the dirt, cementing the team’s seventh loss of the season. The team has run into incredibly tough luck this season. Six of the Ridge Riders’ seven losses have come in games tied in rides.
Knowing they had already secured the win, Missouri tapped 18-year-old rookie Kade Madsen (Honeyville, Utah) as their closer. Baby Huey (M Rafter E Bucking Bulls) quickly proved the young Utah rider was no match for his jumps and twists.
The 84.75-83.75 win over Arizona improved Missouri to 1-1 at the PBR Camping World Team Series in Anaheim and 2-5 thus far in 2023. The Ridge Riders remain on the hunt for their first win this season, now 0-7.
"This win was really awesome for us. Joao Lucas Campos and Domino was really great matchup to watch,” said Missouri Thunder Coach Luke Snyder. “That bull doesn't get ridden very often, so I could not be more proud of him (Joao). He is getting settled here in America, and to be able to step up for the team today was really big for us. Everything is really coming together for the team at the right time. There is still a lot of the season left and we are really optimistic for the future."
Oklahoma Completes Perfect 2-0 Weekend in Anaheim with Shutout Win Over Nashville Stampede During Final Day of PBR Camping World Team Series Competition at Honda Center
Oklahoma Freedom: 84.75
Nashville Stampede: 0
The Oklahoma Freedom continued their momentum as PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Team Series action concluded Sunday afternoon in Anaheim, California, winning their fifth game of the season against the Nashville Stampede.
After the Stampede’s leadoff rider Ednelio Almeida (Carcoal, Brazil) was sent flying by Coach K (4B Bucking Bulls), the Freedom quickly tried to respond. Alex Cerqueira (Iguatemi, Brazil), riding with a broken leg, was seemingly no match for Snake Eyes (D&H Cattle Co), as the clock stopped before the 8 allegedly due to a touch with his free arm. After a lengthy review by replay judges, Oklahoma got the score, logging 84.75 points on the board to take the lead.
The scoreboard went unchanged through the second as the Stampede lost their challenge when Head Coach Justin McBride called for a review of Matt Triplett’s (Canton, South Dakota) buckoff atop Midnight City (4B Bucking Bulls). While McBride thought the bull hipped himself, the judges disagreed, keeping their initial no-score call in place. In the bottom of the second frame, the Freedom could not advance their lead as Mr. Clean (Julio Moreno/ Equistride) dispatched Casey Roberts (Munford, Alabama).
As the third got underway, newly signed Nashville contender Alan de Souza (Taubate, Brazil) was unable to give the Stampede the lead as he was tossed by Hard Candy (Braun Bucking Bulls) in 5.18 seconds, awarding the talented bovine the highest bull score thus far in the night, 44 points. The Freedom then tried to post their second score of the game as Team Captain Eli Vastbinder (Statesville, North Carolina) attempted to cover Money (Culp Bucking Bulls/ Zapata. Mendes), a bovine he last was bested by in 2021; their second meeting ended in the same zero score.
After three-time PBR World Champion Silvano Alves (Pilar do Sul, Brazil) bucked off I’m Your Daddy (Cooper/ Scruggs Bucking Bulls) in the top of the fourth in an attempt to collect the Stampede’s first score, Oklahoma then looked to young gun Elizmar Jeremias (Anapu, Brazil) in the bottom of the fourth. Despite his 60% riding percentage, he couldn’t find the 8 atop Magic Trick (D&H Cattle Co), tossed in 3.40 seconds.
Bruno Carvalho (Alvares Florence, Brazil) then faced a must-ride situation for Nashville, needing a score to keep his team in the game. His ride aboard YETI World Champion Bull contender Cool Whip (Julian/ Staci Addison/ D&H/ Crooked W) was a brief 3.99 seconds. As the last man out of the chutes, the Freedom’s hopes of a second score, despite already securing the win, rested in the hands of Derek Kolbaba (Walla Walla, Washington) aboard Show Me (Cooper/Scruggs Bucking Bulls). However, Kolbaba was bested by the powerful animal athlete, being thrashed to the ground and stomped upon after a mere 4.27 seconds. Despite Kolbaba’s inability to convert, the Freedom still defeated Nashville 84.75-0.
Compliments of the win, Oklahoma improved to 2-0 at the PBR Camping World Team Series event in Anaheim and is now 5-2 thus far in 2023. The Stampede concluded competition inside the Honda Center 0-2 and are now 0-7 across the campaign.
“I am so proud of the Freedom,” shared an elated Oklahoma Freedom Head Coach Cord McCoy. “A different rider steps up every time we have a game to get the win. It takes a whole team to get this done, and they are doing an awesome job!”
Austin Gamblers Victorious with Walk-Off Win After High-Energy Slugfest with Kansas City on Final Day in Anaheim
Austin Gamblers: 346
Kansas City Outlaws: 342.25
While the Austin Gamblers and Kansas City Outlaws each scored four qualified rides inside a loud Honda Center on the final day of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Team Series event in Anaheim, California, the Gamblers prevailed in the back-and-forth slugfest with a walk-off ride delivered by Austin Richardson.
The five-on-five showdown began in a positive fashion as the leadoff rider for Kansas City, Julio Cesar Marques (Tatui, Brazil), delivered in perfect form, riding Klay Maker (4B Bucking Bulls) for 85.75 points. The Austin Gamblers were quick to respond. In the bottom of the first, Dalton Kasel (Muleshoe, Texas) bested Bamboozle (Farris Cattle/ Big Schott Rodeo) for 88.25 points to put the Gamblers within 2.5 points of the lead.
As the second frame got underway, the Outlaws celebrated reclaiming the lead as Cassio Dias’s (Sao F. de Sales, Brazil) trip with Regulator (Humpz and Hornz/ Frances Dandy) netted 87 points. The out also clinched Dias the event MVP title. The Gamblers continued their momentum in the bottom of the frame, taking their lead back when Lucas Divino (Nova Crixas, Brazil), in his fourth career matchup with Cherry Bomb (Flinn/ D&H Cattle), son of the famed bull Bushwacker, made the whistle. Despite a quick replay review by judges, the score was deemed good for a critical 83.75 points.
In the third frame, Kansas City’s Marcus Mast (Middlebury, Indiana) matched with Best in Show (Glover Cattle/ D&H Cattle Co) for the third time in his career but was quickly unseated, similar to his previous matchups with the talented athlete, ultimately unable to push the Outlaws further into the lead. The bottom of the frame saw Austin’s Adriano Salgado (Batatais, Brazil) dance with Wicked Warrior (D&H Cattle Co) for 7.86 seconds as re-ride flags flew through the air. Chute judges declared a second bull was in order, giving Salgado a further chance to get Austin back into the lead.
The Outlaws turned to Kyler Oliver (Roy, Utah) in the top of the fourth. Drama unfolded as Kansas City issued a challenge for a re-ride and, as judges reviewed, Gamblers Head Coach Michael Gaffney threw his own challenge to the requested review. After scrutinous review, judges declared the ride did still deem a re-ride. In the bottom of the frame, Ramon de Lima (Rio Branco, Brazil) had the chance to grab the lead for Austin atop Sweatlodge Testified (Silver Bridge Bucking Bulls/ Culp Bucking Bulls/ Green). Lima could not convert for his team, coming off at the 6.45-second mark.
As the fifth frame got underway, Kansas City closer Leonardo Castro Ferreira (Cassilandia, Brazil) struggled in the chutes with Oaks Dancin’ Blue (Farris Cattle/ Big Schott Rodeo) but confidently rode the animal athlete to the tune of 82.25 points to push Kansas City to 255 while Austin had 172. All eyes then turned to Gamblers franchise star, two-time PBR World Champion Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil), and his matchup with Sevens Wild (Farris Cattle/ Big Schott Rodeo). The Brazilian phenom, known for his calm and stoic demeanor in high-pressure situations, effortlessly bested the light brown bovine for 84.75 points, and Austin took the lead 256.75-255. Leme is now 7-for-7 this year in must-ride and pressure situations.
The slugfest still had two outs remaining, with a re-ride for each team. Calling on Koltin Hevalow (Smithville, Missouri) to take the re-ride for Oliver, the Outlaws were prepared to battle. Paired with Short Circuit (D&H Cattle Company), Hevalow put up one of the biggest rides of his career, going 88.25 points to reclaim the lead for Kansas City. The energy in the arena was electric as fans went to full volume when Austin Richardson (Dallas, Texas) readied to take Salgado’s re-ride. Netting a monstrous 89.25-point score, he clinched the walk-off win for the Gamblers, 346-342.25.
The Austin Gamblers concluded PBR Camping World Team Series in Anaheim with a 2-0 record and improved to 7-0 this season. The Kansas City Outlaws went 1-1 in Anaheim, now boasting a 4-3 record this season.
“This team is amazing,” shouted an ecstatic JJ Gottsch, CEO of the Austin Gamblers. “And when I say team, I mean the entire team. Jose is the best in the world, but this entire team is awesome. Everybody on this team had a role in this victory this weekend, and I am so happy for them.”
Carolina Cowboys Defeat Texas Rattlers in Final Game on Championship Sunday at PBR Camping World Team Series Event in Anaheim
Carolina Cowboys: 173.5
Texas Rattlers: 89.25
The Carolina Cowboys defeated the Texas Rattlers by one ride score on Sunday at the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Team Series event in Anaheim, California, in an effort to salvage the weekend after a loss to the Austin Gamblers on Saturday.
As the game began, Carolina chose to open with 2016 PBR World Champion Cooper Davis (Jasper, Texas) in the driver’s seat. Aboard Mighty Mike (Braun Bucking Bulls), Davis could not convert, losing his seat at 3.23 seconds. Texas chose to lead with veteran Joao Ricardo Vieira (Itatinga, Brazil) in a pairing with Happy Hour (Hawkins Bucking Bulls). Despite some struggles in the chutes, his 89.25 points put the Rattlers on the right path from the start.
In the second frame, Josh Frost (Randlett, Utah) sailed through the air on Joy’s Bang Bang (4B Bucking Bulls) for the Cowboys, but judges wanted to review for a touch. After looking for the slap, replay judges declared Frost did not touch the animal athlete and that the ride was qualified to the tune of 86.75 points. The Rattlers looked to Alvaro Ariel (Itumirum, Brazil) on Sock Monkey (D&H Cattle Co) to put a second score on the board in the bottom of the second. Unable to convert, Ariel hit the ground at 7.35 seconds.
Daniel Feitosa (Guaraca, Brazil) kicked off the third frame in electric fashion for Carolina after covering Delight (Farris Cattle/ Big Schott Rodeo) for 86.75 points, pushing the Cowboys into the lead with 173.5 points to Texas’s 89.25. Brady Oleson (Blackfoot, Idaho) tried to step up in the bottom of the frame for Texas to secure a ride in his matchup with Hard Rock (Braun Bucking Bulls). After getting slammed to the ground and pummeled, Oleson was given a re-ride, which would be taken by Dawson Gleaves (Amarillo, Texas).
The fourth frame began with Crooked Nose (M Rafter E Bucking Bulls) making quick work of Carolina’s Boudreaux Campbell (Crockett, Texas), coming down short at 4.34 seconds. At the bottom of the fourth, the Rattlers’ Brady Fielder (Clermont, Queensland, Australia) was having an immense challenge in the chute on Raven (Dakota Rodeo/ Chad Berger/ Pronghorn Well Service/ M Rafter E), and judges declared a re-ride as Fielder excited the chutes. Texas closer Daniel Keeping (Montague, Texas) and American Hustle (Humpz and Hornx/ ET Cattle) launched from the chutes as re-ride flags flew.
Carolina’s closer, Trey Kimzey (Strong City, Oklahoma), faced off with Heater (D&H Cattle Company) before Texas’s three re-rides. Kimzey was quickly dispatched, leaving the Cowboys at 173.50 and facing down three potential rides by their opponent.
Gleaves, stepping in for Oleson’s re-ride, was matched with Lights Out (Hawkins Bucking Bulls/ Preier Ag) but was unable to score. The next Texas re-ride to step up and try to overturn Carolina’s lead was Fielder. Manaba (Joe & Nina Webb/ Julian/ D&H Cattle Co) quickly extinguished that hope. Put back into the closer role, Keeping settled in on Dirty Dave (Diamond Bar Cattle), knowing he needed at least an 84.25-point score to tie the game. Slammed to the ground in a quick 2.04 seconds, the incomplete ride clinched the win for Carolina.
Courtesy of the 173.5-89.25 win, the Carolina Cowboys improved to 1-1 in Anaheim and 5-2 in 2023. The Texas Rattlers concluded the event at Honda Center 1-1 as well and are now 4-3 this season.
“Today, I really feel like our team pulled together after yesterday and we stepped our game up,” said Carolina Cowboys Head Coach Jerome Davis. “I wish we would have rode more bulls, but at the end of the day, we got a score on the board and it was a W. I feel good rollin’ into Nashville next week.”
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media