PBR Teams: Cowboy Days marks the eighth of 12 regular-season events during the fourth PBR Camping World Team Series season. The action inside First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina, kicks off Friday, September 12, at 7:45 p.m. ET, continues Saturday, September 13, at 7:45 p.m. ET, and wraps up Sunday, September 14, at 12:15 p.m. ET.
CBS GAMES OF THE WEEK SPOTLIGHT:
Saturday’s CBS Games of the Week spotlight two critical battles: Texas Rattlers vs. Austin Gamblers and Nashville Stampede vs. Carolina Cowboys.
Texas enters at 13-7 and tied for the league lead in 90-point rides, fueled by MVP contender Brady Fielder, while Austin sits in the three-way tie atop the standings at 15-5. The Gamblers are looking to bounce back in Greensboro after being bested and left scoreless by the Florida Freedom on Sunday in Anaheim.
In the second feature, Nashville is fighting to climb out of the bottom tier and recently acquired Rogério Silva Venâncio from Austin, with the Brazilian set to debut in Stampede blue on Friday night. The team also faces a setback as Kaiden Loud has returned to the injured reserve after aggravating his ankle in Anaheim, the same injury that has sidelined him since Duluth. Carolina, meanwhile, leans on Clay Guiton and the continued resurgence of Jess Lockwood, who is showing flashes of his pre-injury form. The Cowboys also just acquired Trey Holston from New York, hoping he can provide crucial depth to their powerhouse five. With playoff positioning on the line, Saturday’s games carry major weight for both the top and bottom halves of the standings.
STRUGGLING SQUAD
The New York Mavericks (3-17) have endured a season of hard knocks, entering Cowboy Days at the bottom of the standings. Despite bright moments from Marco Rizzo, Leonardo Castro, and Mauricio Gulla Moreira, the Mavericks have yet to find a complete team rhythm. They recently acquired Alison Trindade dos Santos in a trade from Florida, adding another Brazilian talent to the roster, and are hoping to keep their head above water long enough for the cavalry to arrive — Rookie of the Year Hudson Bolton is expected to storm in for the final two events of the season. With three matchups in Greensboro, including a tough opener against Texas, New York must find cohesion quickly to salvage playoff hopes.
REMATCH RECAP
Greensboro offers a slate of rider-bull reunions sure to impact the standings. Leonardo Castro meets Eyes On Me, who he bested at Stampede Days for 87.25 points after two earlier losses. Julio Cesar Marques draws Coal Train, who dispatched him in 3.90 seconds in Louisville, while Wingson Henrique da Silva aims to stay perfect against Buffalo Heifer after an 83.75-point ride earlier this year.
Austin's Andrei Scoparo gets another chance at Chief Wahoo following a quick buckoff in Duluth, and José Vitor Leme draws Wild Card for the fifth time in their storied rivalry — Leme is 3-for-4, including a 90-point high mark. Florida’s Elizmar Jeremias will look to remain undefeated against Mike’s Motive, having covered him three times for 88 points or better.
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