LAS VEGAS – It hasn’t been a perfect season for the Austin Gamblers.

But you’d be hard pressed to find a Champion at the end of any competitive playoff slate who hasn’t endured its ups and downs at some point.

Especially in the PBR Camping World Team Series, where parity has been infectious throughout the third season of 5-on-5 action.

And in a season where the two-time regular season Champion Austin Gamblers turned in an uncharacteristic 13-15 slate, they were one of the teams competing Saturday night who weren’t afraid of leaving that part of their summer in the rearview, instead building on what could be.

“The mission is the same and you’ll hear this from every team, but you’ve gotta ride your bulls. I never want to make excuses but we’ve had a funky year and we’ve had some bad calls not go our way. And that’s why I’m so thrilled for our guys pulling through it all,” Head Coach Michael Gaffney shared.

“There was a time there where we were almost searching for some things in our riding to change and I said ‘Look, step back a little bit. We have to make sure we’re not trying to manifest something that’s not there. There is nothing there, you guys are trying your asses off and as long as you’re doing that, we’ll come out of this.' And they proved that.”

After going a combined 2-for-10 Friday night, including a 1-for-5 effort during a loss to the Missouri Thunder, before eventually punching their ticket to Round 2 via an unideal, yet round-topping 1-for-5 effort in Last Chance Game, a completely different Gamblers squad showed up inside T-Mobile Arena Saturday evening.

“To be able to make it through that cloud … It’s easy to hang your head when you have to go back to that Last Chance and you know it’s your last chance, do or die,” he added.

“To make it through that foggy, cloudy moment is tough. It’ll test your resolve and I think we proved that last night with Kaique’s (Pacheco) great ride and to be able to refocus and carry our team to the finish was great. We only got one bull ridden but it was enough and we’ll take it.”

Eventually defeating the No. 2-ranked Carolina Cowboys 349.75-166 en route to racking up the highest game score of the weekend, Gaffney’s gang was locked in. And it showed.

And let us tell you, there was quite a big difference in tone between scraping by to advance on Friday night and setting the tone with a 4-for-5 performance on Saturday.

If anybody ever doubted the seriousness and professional tone often on display in Austin’s locker room most nights, they sure would be glad to know the vibes were high in the dressing quarters following the win, as they should’ve been.

“That’s the rocket fuel we need, especially heading into Championship Sunday. We can really use this to propel us into tomorrow. That momentum that we talk about so often in Teams and bull riding or any game for that matter, this gives those guys that injection that they deserve,” Gaffney said.

“Not just because of what they’ve done tonight but what they’ve put up with this year, lots of ups and downs and I’m so happy for them.”

Improving to 2-for-3 on the weekend, it was the 2018 World Champion in Pacheco who initially set the tone for the Gamblers Saturday night, scored 89.25 points for his trip aboard Eyes On Me.

And while it took a few outs from there to see the rest of the team’s top-tier trio finish the job in stunning fashion, better late than never is a rule that always applies in the postseason.

As the team and crowd alike awaited the closing acts, Ramon de Lima took advantage of his re-ride opportunity by besting Wasted Nights for a sound 83 points en route to applying some pressure to the league’s once runaway Cowboys contingent.

Carolina hadn’t trailed in many games this season, eventually securing a first-round bye game Friday night courtesy of their 18-9-1 regular season record. And their ability to bounce back wasn’t much on display until the team eventually regained their footing during the final Last Chance Game of the season.

But Saturday was less about Carolina and much more about Austin.

Especially when it was time for Dalton Kasel to kick things up a notch.

Turning in a rank 88.25 points atop Snuggles as the round progressed, you could feel the Gamblers’ sideline take a collective breath of relief as they heard their young star’s score announced.

Just like Austin hadn’t been perfect in 2024, neither had Kasel, just 6-for-17 on the season.

But stars like the Muleshoe, Texas, native seem to shine brightest before dawn.

Exactly what two-time World Champion Jose Vitor Leme represents for the Gamblers.

While the all-world talent’s 89.25-pointer dancing with Wooderson initially stole the show, it was the return of “Champ’s” helmet kick celebration that may signify he’s back in his groove.

And a fired up Leme isn’t something any of the league’s other three remaining teams want to run into come Championship Sunday.

“Just like all teams, we’ve got work to do. We take it one jump every time, every bull at a time. We want to hear the whistle on each bull and we’ll see who comes out on top. They’re professionals and if they bring it like they brought it tonight, they can ride most of them,” Gaffney concluded.

“It’s knowing that they fool good, they have confidence after kicking ass tonight and they can carry that forward and take it with them to the chutes tomorrow night.”

Set to square off with the No. 1 Kansas City Outlaws during Championship Sunday’s opening showcase, just two more wins separate the green and black unit from capturing what would be their first-ever PBR Teams Championship.

All of Championship Sunday’s action is set to air LIVE on CBS Television Network Sunday, Oct. 20 beginning at Noon PDT.

Fans can stay tuned to PBR.com and @PBR social media channels for all of the celebrations, top takeaways, postseason feature articles and beyond!

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media