No. 5 Austin Gamblers prevail in the first Last Chance Game to remain in competition, eliminating the Nashville Stampede and New York Mavericks from title contention

By Kacie Albert

LAS VEGAS – As the 2024 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Teams Championship got underway Friday night in Las Vegas, the No. 3 Florida Freedom, No. 4 Texas Rattlers and No. 6 Missouri Thunder each won in commanding fashion to advance to Round 2 of the progressive elimination tournament on Saturday, Oct. 19. The No. 5 Austin Gamblers rebounded from a loss earlier in the evening, winning the three-way Last Chance Game to secure the final berth to the Championship’s second round, eliminating the No. 7 Nashville Stampede and No. 8 New York Mavericks.

In the opening game of the 2024 PBR Teams Championship, the No. 5 Missouri Thunder beat the No. 6 Austin Gamblers by two ride scores, 265.75-90.5.

Missouri converted in the opening two frames, as both Paulo Eduardo Rossetto and Boudreaux Campbell made the requisite 8. Their strong start coupled with four consecutive buckoffs from Austin led the Thunder to clinch the game win in the middle of the fourth.

With the game result already determined, both teams put on a show in the fifth. After Missouri’s Andrew Alvidrez rode Almost Sober for 89.5 points to put an exclamation point on the Thunder’s win, Austin’s Jose Vitor Leme delivered the first 90-point ride of the postseason in besting Feeds Red River for 90.5 points, also preventing the Gamblers from suffering a scoreless defeat.

The Missouri Thunder advanced directly to Round 2 of the PBR Teams Championship, next set to play the No. 1 Kansas City Outlaws, while Austin became the first team relegated to the Last Chance Game.

The electric Friday night crowd inside T-Mobile Arena then watched the league’s only two Champions, the Texas Rattlers (2023) and Nashville Stampede (2022) go head-to-head. A 3-for-5 effort from the reigning World Champion Rattlers, headlined by scores from Brady Fielder, Daniel Keeping and Joao Ricardo Vieira, proved too much for the Stampede to overcome as Texas won by 177.25 points, 264-86.75.

Nashville staved off a shutout courtesy of a score from three-time PBR World Champion Silvano Alves, who will retire as a bull rider at the conclusion of the Teams Championship event.

The win advanced Texas to the second round of the tournament, while Nashville readied to join Austin in the Last Chance Game.

In what proved to the most enthralling game of the evening, 2024 PBR Teams MVP John Crimber catapulted the Florida Freedom to an 84.25-point, walk-off win against the New York Mavericks, 262.75-178.5.

Florida led the game entering the fifth as the scores from Alex Cerqueira in the first and Joao Henrique Lucas in the third outscored the one effort from New York’s Hudson Bolton in the third. Facing a must-ride situation to begin the final frame, Mauricio Moreira delivered in a big way for New York. Needing a score of 87 points or more to keep his team in the hunt for the win, Moreira registered a mammoth 91.25-point ride on The Kraken to put the Mavericks ahead by 4.5 points before Florida’s final out.

The game then came down to teenage phenom Crimber paired with Riser by Freedom Head Coach and his father Paulo Crimber. Crimber rode the bull for 88.75 points to deliver the come-from-behind win by 84.25 points, 262.75-178.5.

Florida punched its ticket to Round 2 of the 2024 PBR Teams Championship, set to play the reigning Teams Champion Texas Rattlers, while New York’s postseason dreams came down to the first Last Chance Game.

During the Last Chance Game, each team logged one ride score, with the 88.75-point effort from Austin’s Kaique Pacheco proving to be the winning score as the Gamblers beat the Nashville Stampede (87.75 points) and New York Mavericks (83.75 points). Remaining in title contention, the Austin Gamblers will next play the No. 2 Carolina Cowboys as they chase their first Teams World Championship.

The 2024 PBR Camping World Teams Championship continues Saturday, Oct. 19 at 5:45 p.m. PT, when the following teams will face off:

              No. 1 Kansas City Outlaws vs. No. 6 Missouri Thunder

              No. 2 Carolina Cowboys vs. No. 5 Austin Gamblers

              No. 3 Florida Freedom vs. No. 4 Texas Rattlers

Second Last Chance Game (Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser vs. Game 3 Loser)

Merit Street Media and PBR+ will broadcast all the action from the second night of the season-ending tournament beginning at 9 p.m. ET.

PBR+ is a brand-new streaming subscription service offering unprecedented access to PBR & Rodeo video content, including live events, replays, and on-demand. Viewers can download the PBR+ App in the IOS and Android App Store or on Apple TV and Android TV, Roku, and Fire TV. PBR+ subscriptions are $9.99/month or $79.99/year. However, fans can enjoy a free trial until January 1, 2025, by visiting PBRplus.com.

Viewers can also watch on the Merit+ app or go to https://www.meritstreetmedia.com/channel-finder to find the Merit Street Media cable channel in their area. On-demand replays of all the PBR Teams action will be available the following day on the Merit+ app.

SCORE BULLETINS

Missouri Thunder Ride to Commanding Two-Ride-Score Win Against the Austin Gamblers to Advance to the Second Round of the 2024 PBR Teams Championship in Las Vegas

Missouri Thunder: 265.75

Austin Gamblers: 90.5

In the first game of the 2024 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Teams Championship, the Missouri Thunder earned a commanding two-ride-score win against the Austin Gamblers, 265.75-90.5. The win punched Missouri’s ticket to the second round of the progressive elimination tournament, while Austin became the first of three teams relegated to the first Last Chance Game. Missouri began the game in commanding form. Opener Paulo Eduardo Rossetto gave the Thunder a quick 88.75-point lead as he went the distance on Mike’s Motive. While the Gamblers appeared poised to respond in the bottom of the first, 2018 PBR World Champion Kaique Pacheco was whipped down at the 5.37-second mark by Margin of Error. Missouri kept its foot on the accelerator in the second. Boudreaux Campbell rode Baldy for 87.5 points, extending the Thunder’s lead to 176.25 points. Austin continued to stumble. In the bottom of the second, the Gamblers remained two ride scores behind following a 5.42-second buckoff dealt to Dalton Kasel by Air Marshall. In the top of the third, Missouri hit its first speedbump of the game as Felipe Furlan was launched airborne by Rock ‘n Roll after just 3.45 seconds. Still on the hunt for its first qualified ride, Austin turned to Lucas Divino on Bueno, but the affable Brazilian was brought off center at the 5.27-second mark, resulting in no score. As the fourth frame began, Missouri had the chance to clinch the game win early. In the possibly victory-cementing out was Dawson Gleaves on Bangarang. Bursting from the chutes, Gleaves appeared centered, but the bull got the better of him just shy of the 8-second whistle, bucked off at 7.06 seconds, to keep the Gamblers’ hopes of a come-from-behind win alive. While they staved off defeat, Austin then found themselves in a must-ride position to conclude the game, trailing by two scores with just two outs remaining. Ramon de Lima was tasked with Regulator by Austin Head Coach Michael Gaffney, but the veteran competitor did not have enough to get past the bovine athlete, tossed in 2.74 seconds. The buckoff cemented the win for Missouri Thunder as they advanced to the second round of the 2024 PBR Teams Championship on Saturday, Oct. 19. Missouri concluded the game in triumphant fashion. It punctuated the win with an 89.5-point ride from closer Andrew Alvidrez aboard Almost Sober. While their fate was determined, turning their focus to the Last Chance Game, the Gamblers’ closer Jose Vitor Leme prevented a scoreless defeat as he logged the first 90-point ride of the postseason, conquering Feeds Red River for a monstrous 90.5 points. When the dust settled, the Missouri Thunder beat the Austin Gamblers by 175.25 points, 265.75-90.5. Missouri advanced to the second round of the tournament, where it would later be determined it would play the No. 1 Kansas City Outlaws, while the Austin Gamblers readied to play in the first Last Chance Game.

Reigning Champion Texas Rattlers Beat Nashville Stampede by Two Ride Scores During Round 1 of the 2024 PBR Camping World Teams Championship

Nashville Stampede: 86.75

Texas Rattlers: 264

In a showdown of the league’s two Champions, the 2023 Champion Texas Rattlers dominated in Round 1 of the 2024 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Teams Championship, beating the 2022 Champion Nashville Stampede by two ride scores, 264-86.75, to advance directly to the second round of the progressive elimination tournament. Nashville suffered a narrow defeat as the game got underway. In the top of the first, Stampede opener Alan de Souza was brought down in a close 7.66 seconds by Desert Twister. Texas capitalized, striking first in the bottom of the frame. Brady Fielder went the distance on Magic Hunter to give the league’s reigning Champions a quick 88-point lead. The Stampede continued to falter in the second as Cody Jesus proved no match for Doze You Down, tossed in 4.64 seconds. Texas’s momentum continued to roll to close the second. Despite the out being reviewed for an apparent slap, no such foul was discovered, with Daniel Keeping posting the Rattlers’ second consecutive score of the game, covering Hoka Hey for 88.5 points and increasing Texas’s lead to 176.5 points. The Stampede reclaimed their winning form in the top of the third whenAnderson de Oliveria rode Killer Instinct for 77.25 points. Nashville, however, was awarded a re-ride, which Stampede Head Coach Justin McBride elected to take, tapping young gun Kaiden Loud to join the lineup from the bench. In the bottom of the third, Texas’s scoring streak came to an end as Claudio Montanha Jr. was bucked off at the 6.86-second mark by Black Ice. Courtesy of the re-ride earned earlier in the game, Nashville attempted back-to-back outs to begin the fourth. After Chase Outlaw bucked off Spice in 4.74 seconds, three-time PBR World Champion Silvano Alves faced Nashville’s first must-ride moment as he settled in aboard Lapua. The stoic veteran burst from the chutes inside T-Mobile Arena and remained in perfect time with the powerful animal athlete. Marked 86.75 points, the score propelled Nashville within 89.75 points of tying the game. While Nashville’s score kept its hopes of victory alive, Texas then had a chance to clinch the game win early in the bottom of the fourth. Qynn Andersen, however, was unable to close the door on the game, whipped down in 1.86 seconds by Haymaker. The showdown of the league’s only two Champions then came down to a high-pressure fifth. The final round of outs began with a must-ride position for Nashville. Their postseason dreams came down to Loud on re-ride bull Down Payment. While Loud initially appeared centered, he was unseated at the 5.96-second mark. The buckoff cemented the game win early for Texas as the Rattlers’ closer, Joao Ricardo Vieira, took to the chutes for his out with Body Roc. The veteran competitor capped Texas’s win with an 87.5-point ride, as the Rattlers won by 177.25 points, 264-86.75. Via the win, the Texas Rattlers advance to Round 2 of the season-ending tournament. For Nashville, they turned their attention to the first Last Chance Game, joining the Gamblers and the loser of the game between the Florida Freedom and New York Mavericks.

2024 PBR Teams MVP John Crimber Delivers a Walk-Off Win for the Florida Freedom Against the New York Mavericks to Advance to Round 2 of the 2024 Championship Tournament

New York Mavericks: 178.5

Florida Freedom: 262.75

In what proved to be the most thrilling head-to-head bull riding game of the night, 2024 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Teams MVP John Crimber propelled the Florida Freedom to a walk-off win against the New York Mavericks, 262.5-178.5. The win punched Florida’s ticket to Round 2 of the 2024 PBR Camping World Teams Championship, while the loss forced New York into the first Last Chance Game. Eager to continue their momentum from the Ride-In Round that earned them a spot inside T-Mobile Arena, the New York Mavericks looked to Mason Taylor to give the Kody Lostroh-led squad an early lead. Taylor, however, did not have enough to get past the bovine athlete, throttled to the ground at the 3.45-second mark. Florida, however, began the game with a bang, jumping to an early 88.5-point lead in the bottom of the first courtesy of an 8-second effort from Alex Cerqueira on Cliff Hanger. PBR’s animal athletes stole the show in the second, showcasing their athletic prowess as they bucked off Leonardo Castro for New York and Joao Lucas Campos for Florida. The Mavericks broke through in the top of the third. Hudon Bolton rode Wingman for 87.25 points, closing New York within 1.25 points of tying the game. Florida responded quickly. In the very next out, the Freedom’s Joao Henrique Lucas covered Woody for 85.5 points, putting Florida back ahead by a full score, 86.75 points, as the scoreboard read a 174-87.25 Freedom lead. Following a New York buckoff in the top of the fourth, with Maverick Smith throttled to the ground by Twisted Sister in 2.1 seconds, Florida had the chance to clinch the game win early by pulling two ride scores ahead with just one Maverick remaining. In the possible game-winning moment was Thiago Salgado, paired with Washita Red by Florida Head Coach Paulo Crimber. Bursting from the chutes inside T-Mobile Arena, Salgado was flung airborne at the 3.88-second mark, keeping New York’s hopes of a come-from-behind victory alive. New York then faced a must-ride position to being the fifth, needing a score of 87 points or more from Mauricio Moreira on The Kraken to remain in contention for the game win. After diligent preparation in the chutes, Moreira called for the gate and matched the powerful animal athlete jump-for-jump en route to the whistle as the Mavericks erupted in celebration. Marked a mammoth 91.25 points, the score catapulted New York to the game lead by 4.5 points, 178.5-174, as the Freedom’s closer and 2024 PBR Teams MVP Crimber took to the chutes for his showdown with Riser.  With his title-contending form on full display, Crimber rode the bull with ease, earning his team the come-from-behind win as he recorded an 88.75-point ride. At game’s end, Florida won by 84.25 points, 262.75-178.5, advancing to Round 2 of the progressive elimination tournament, where the No. 4 Texas Rattlers await them. The New York Mavericks’ loss earned them the final spot in the Last Chance Game, where they would play the Austin Gamblers and Nashville Stampede.

Austin Gamblers Beats the Nashville Stampede and New York Mavericks in the First Last Chance Game to Advance to Round 2 of the 2024 PBR Camping World Teams Championship

Austin Gamblers: 88.75

Nashville Stampede: 87.75

New York Mavericks: 83.75

In the first Last Chance Game of the 2024 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Teams Championship, the Austin Gamblers rebounded in resilient form. Delivering the top score of the three-way game, Austin beat the Nashville Stampede and New York Mavericks to earn the final berth to Round 2 of the postseason tournament. The opening frame established New York and Nashville as early favorites to win the game. The Mavericks struck in the top of the first, as Leonardo Castro rode Firewater for 83.75 points, only to be surpassed in the very next out by Nashville as Alan de Souza covered Rombauer for 87.75 points. Austin was unable to keep pace. The Gamblers’ Ramon de Lima proved no match for Mercy, tossed in 2.72 seconds. Following the first round, Nashville led the three-way game by 4 points, 87.75-83.75-0.00. The second frame was a complete reversal of the first. After New York and Nashville bucked off in the first two outs, Austin converted in the final trip to overtake the game lead by 1 point courtesy of an 88.75-point ride form 2018 PBR World Champion Kaique Pacheco atop It’s Cherry. The scoreboard then went unchanged through the third and fourth, remaining 88.75-87.75-83.75, as PBR’s animal athletes bested each athlete from the three competing teams in the two frames. The final berth to Round 2 of the 2024 PBR Teams Championship then came down to the fifth frame. As final round of outs began, New York’s season came down to Marco Rizzo on Snoop Dog, needing a score to remain in the hunt. After initially appearing centered, Rizzo was brought down at the 6.86-second mark as the team’s inaugural season came to an end. Much the same, Nashville took to the chutes for its final out, also in a must-ride position. Their fates remained in the hands of three-time PBR World Champion Silvano Alves. While Alves was deemed to have covered Punchy Pete in arena, the call was challenged. Upon review, Alves was deemed to have lost the rope at the 7.96-second mark, resulting in no score and cementing the win for the Austin Gamblers. Courtesy of the win, Austin advanced to Round 2 of the postseason tournament on Saturday, Oct. 19, next set to play the No. 2 Carolina Cowboys.

October 19 Game Schedule:

Here are the game matchups for the second day of action for the 2024 PBR Camping World Teams Championship on Saturday, Oct. 19:

No. 1 Kansas City Outlaws vs. No. 6 Missouri Thunder

No. 2 Carolina Cowboys vs. No. 5 Austin Gamblers

No. 3 Florida Freedom vs. No. 4 Texas Rattlers

Second Last Chance Game (Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser vs. Game 3 Loser)

About the PBR Camping World Team Series:

The PBR Camping World Team Series is an elite league featuring the world’s top bull riders competing on teams in five-on-five games leading to a Team Championship at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. During the 2024 season, the league’s third, each of the 10 teams – Austin Gamblers of Austin, TX; Arizona Ridge Riders of Glendale, AZ; Carolina Cowboys of Greensboro, NC; Florida Freedom of Sunrise, FL; Kansas City Outlaws of Kansas City, MO; Nashville Stampede of Nashville, TN; New York Mavericks of Brooklyn, NY; OK; Oklahoma Wildcatters of Oklahoma City, OK; Missouri Thunder of Springfield, MO; and Texas Rattlers of Fort Worth, TX– will host a homestand. Neutral-site games in Anaheim, CA and Duluth, GA are planned as well.

PBR Teams, launched in July 2022, builds on the existing structure of professional bull riding with the same basic rules for judging and scoring qualified 8-second bull rides. In events staged in a tournament-style format, all teams compete in head-to-head matchups against a different opponent each day. Each game features five riders per team squaring off against another team. Full team rosters are comprised of seven riders on the Protected Roster and five Reserve riders. The team with the highest aggregate score of qualified rides among its riders is declared the winner of each game. All PBR Teams events are carried on either the CBS Television Network, streaming live on Paramount+, or Merit Street Media.

PBR is part of Endeavor, a global sports and entertainment company. For more information, visit PBR.com, or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/PBR, Twitter at Twitter.com/PBR, and YouTube at YouTube.com/PBR.