HOUSTON, Texas – When the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) returns to Toyota Center in Houston, Texas this weekend with the elite Unleash The Beast on Jan. 17-18, the world’s premier bull riding organization will unite with Memories of Honor to recognize two local fallen servicemen during the debut of the “Texas Cup.”
During the Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by Camping World, on Friday night, a special “Texas Cup” rivalry game will be held, pitting the 2023 PBR Teams Champion Texas Rattlers against the 2024 PBR Teams Champion Austin Gamblers. The two participating teams will each ride in memory of a fallen servicemen. The Texas Rattlers will ride for Specialist Pedro Antonio Maldonado while the Austin Gamblers will compete for Lance Corporal Armando Hernandez.
More on Specialist Maldonado: Specialist Maldonado was born and raised in Houston, alongside his twin sister, Bianca. He graduated from Ebbert L. Furr High School in 2007, where he was a member of JROTC, and shortly after joined the Army. Specialist Maldonado served as a SAW Gunner in Bravo Company, 1-502 INF Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Air Assault. He was known to execute everything asked of him with a smile; whether it be filling sandbags, pulling guard, or emptying the unit’s latrine, and his good attitude and easy-going demeanor was infectious, lifting unit morale and making him a force multiplier. In May 2010, Bravo Co. 1-502 was deployed to the Zhari District, Kandahar Province in Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom. During the first three months of the tour, the unit sustained almost daily direct-fire combat, discovered IED’s almost daily, and suffered several casualties. SPC Maldonado fought courageously through all of it, rising to the occasion and executing to the best of his ability in all stressful situations. His gentle, playful, and bubbly manner made him a favorite among local children in the villages and greatly helped in Bravo Company’s attempt to carry out the US Army’s strategic mission of counterinsurgency: whereby US forces worked to try and gain the trust and aid of local Afghan populations in the fight against the Taliban. Specialist Maldonado was tragically killed in action by rocket propelled grenades while manning a mounted blocking position in Kandalay, Afghanistan on October 29, 2010.
More on Lance Corporal Hernandez: Born in California and moving to Houston in 2006 at the age of five, Hernandez is the middle child of three children, Carlos, his oldest brother who is also a US Marine, and his youngest sister Esmeralda. While excelling in school, Hernandez enlisted in the Marines in his high school cafeteria during his senior year and deployed to bootcamp in San Diego in August 2019. He spent a month in Camp Pendleton, CA conducting Marine Combat Training and moved to the Army Quartermaster School in Fort Lee, Virginia. In July of 2020 he received orders to Okinawa, Japan after completing initial Electro-Optical Repair School and reported to 3d Maintenance Battalion, 3d Marine Logistics Group and was assigned to Ordnance Repair Platoon. While assigned to Ordnance Maintenance, Lance Corporal Hernandez conducted multiple operational and training events. Some of the most notable was Jungle Warfare Training, Lance Corporal’s Leadership and Ethics Seminar, Helicopter Egress training along with many Company, Battalion Events, and Field Training Events. On a personal note, Lance Corporal Hernandez was known for love for his family and friends. His genuine heart along with the combination of his calm quiet presence, his steady demeanor, and his can-do attitude won him many loyal and faithful friends. Lance Corporal Hernandez was wise beyond his years and would light up the room with his interesting character. He made a home of the barracks and was the glue who kept the Marines together, as they celebrated holidays and birthdays on base, cooking homemade recipes to make a home away from home for them. Lance Corporal Hernandez passed in an accident on base while on active duty. On the personal side, we would be remiss if we did not mention.
The Texas Cup rivalry game on Jan. 17 is the third installment of the 15-part Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by Camping World. The series of exhibition games is a new PBR Teams showcase that brings head-to-head, team vs. team bull riding games to new venues during Unleash The Beast events. Each team will play three METC games against the same rival before the 2025 PBR Teams season starts in July.
“We are blessed to be able to work with Memories of Honor to help ensure the memories of Specialist Maldonado and Lance Corporal Hernandez endure, while offering a special experience to their families as we remember their ultimate sacrifice,” said Lynn Wittenburg, SVP Marketing for PBR Teams.
Memories of Honor’s mission is to make every day Memorial Day. They create living memorials to honor those lost during or due to service so their memory will live on for generations. They strive to provide meaningful experiences for the bereaved and an opportunity for the community to pay their respects and learn from these stories of courage, service, and sacrifice.
The bull riding action for the event in Houston begins with Round 1, and the Texas Cup rivalry game, at 7:45 p.m. CT on Friday, Jan. 17, followed by Round 2 and the championship round at 7:45 p.m. CT on Saturday, Jan. 18.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at ToyotaCenter.com, AXS.com and PBR.com, at Toyota Center’s Box Office or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727.
For those fans that purchase tickets through this FEVO link here, they will be able to not only purchase seats in both the Rattlers and Gamblers fan section, but also make a donation back to Memories of Honor.
For more information about the PBR and to see the full 2025 PBR Unleash The Beast schedule, visit PBR.com.
Photo courtesy of Todd Brewer/Bull Stock Media
