PUEBLO, Colo. – It wasn’t a dramatic victory.
But it was a statement nonetheless as the Austin Gamblers secured their first win of the 2024 PBR Camping World Team Series Friday night in Duluth, Georgia.
Edging out the New York Mavericks 260.75-0, the green and black squad may have opened the season 0-2, but the two-time PBR Teams regular season champs were very much favored to defeat the injury-plagued, year one squad.
Only needing one ride to knock off the newcomers, Austin took care of business on their way to the win column in drastic rebound fashion.
But it’s not about how they won.
It was who won it for them: The top-tier trio of Dalton Kasel, Kaique Pacheco and Jose Vitor Leme.
Combining for just a 2-for-6 effort during the season-opener in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the Gamblers’ top performers suddenly appeared mortal as they failed to open season three with a bang.
Following a week of rest, that changed for the team’s all-stars as they brought the energy en route to carrying their squad to a big win. With each of the three cowboys making the 8 Friday inside Gas South Arena, Austin quickly reminded everybody what type of fire-power they’re rocking with.
Getting the team off to a hot start for the second time in three opportunities this season, Kasel teamed up with an old friend in Mighty Mike to both get some revenge and kickstart his squad’s run. Having suffered a 1.47-second buckoff when the two first met back in 2023, “Mr. 90 Pointer” knew it was his turn to triumph, coming damn close to besting the bovine for the coveted mark, instead settling for a quality 88.75-point dance and a storm of momentum.
Fans who have been following for the past few years know Kasel can string a few together when he gets hot. And if the cowboy gets hot early, the Gamblers could very well find themselves continuing to ascend the ranks. Back where they want to be.
Both atop the league standings and that much closer to finding success inside T-Mobile Arena during the 2024 PBR Teams Championship.
If 2018 World Champion in Kaique Pacheco can continue to produce qualified rides in the middle of the team’s lineup, as he did Friday, they’ll be a lot closer to getting back on track after the rough start.
Pacheco’s go aboard Mr. Nightlinger may have only earned an 83.75-point mark, but the squad was also offered a re-ride when the trip concluded.
Seeing Assistant Coach Adriano Moraes signal a big “thumbs down” as soon as the judges asked, knowing the quantitative approach in keeping the score would likely help them out-pace the struggling Mavericks unit, Pacheco and team very much still celebrated.
It likely put them in the fast lane to win No. 1, yeah.
But it also meant Pacheco was officially on the board for the first time with his new team.
And with Leme looming in the closer spot, knowing both of his fellow aces got their jobs done, that goes a long way too, for the two-time PBR Teams MVP.
Who knows how to deliver, himself.
Ezekiel Mitchell, fresh off his PBR Last Cowboy Standing win, and Ramon de Lima, weren’t able to convert in their respective No. 2 and No. 4 spots, but Leme sure did.
He’s a two-time World Champion for a reason – Because he’s good at riding bulls.
Another day at the office for the skilled Brazilian, he matched the bovine’s every move as the pair flashed around the arena for the requisite 8.
Talk about energy. Talk about a closer.
He didn’t need the pressure or dramatic situation to deliver. He was just doing his job.
Exactly what Head Coach Michael Gaffney and company expect from Leme, Pacheco, Kasel and each of the men riding for this “All In” squad.
After dropping Saturday night's showdown to the Carolina Cowboys, the Gamblers return home with a 1-3 record heading into Week 3. A mark they'll look to improve upon in Sunrise, Florida, as the Florida Freedom prepare to host their first-ever showdown inside Amerant Bank Arena Aug. 2-4.
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media
