Freedom, Wildcatters and Outlaws also victorious on Day 1 in Austin
AUSTIN, Texas – As their third annual PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Team Series homestand got underway Friday night in the Lone Star State, the host Austin Gamblers (6-6) lost just their second game in three years inside Moody Center, 173-88.5, to the New York Mavericks (5-7) at PBR Gambler Days.
After New York’s Hudson Bolton and Austin’s Dalton Kasel exchanged rides in the opening frame, the two teams combined for six consecutive buckoffs. The Mavericks’ closer Mauricio Gulla Moreira was finally able to break through, topping Triple Aught for 86.25 points to give the Mavericks a one-score lead. With his MVP banner hanging in the rafters, two-time PBR World Champion Jose Vitor Leme attempted to once again walk off a Gamblers opponent but was bucked off by Haymaker in a heartbreaking 4.29 seconds.
In the first game of the evening, the Florida Freedom (5-7) bested the Nashville Stampede (7-6), 177-86.5. Florida’s Alex Cerqueira was the first to make the 8 Friday night, topping The Kraken for 89.75 points to give the Freedom an early lead they would never relinquish. After the Freedom’s Elizmar Jeremias rode Black Gold for 87.25 points to seal Florida’s victory in the penultimate frame, Nashville veteran Silvano Alves ended the animal athlete’s shutout bid by riding Coco for 86.5 points.
In the closest game of the night, the Oklahoma Wildcatters (5-6) hung on to defeat the Arizona Ridge Riders (4-8), 180-178.5. The game started with a bang, as the Wildcatters’ Eduardo Matos rode Flyin Wired for a monstrous 92.5 points while Arizona’s Eduardo Aparecido responded with his 399th qualified ride on the premier series by riding Tulsa Time for 91 points. Oklahoma’s Josh Frost extended the Wildcatters’ lead by riding Gaucho for 87.5 points in the second-to-last frame, giving the team just enough cushion to survive the Ridge Riders’ Bruno Carvalho’s 87.75-point ride aboard Skippy in the game’s final out.
2024 PBR World Champion Cassio Dias and the Kanas City Outlaws (8-4) walked off the Texas Rattlers (4-8) in the third game Friday night. The Rattlers’ Brady Fielder gave Texas an early lead by riding Mike’s Motive for 89.25 points in the opening frame before rookie Maikon Calixto Rocha rode Down to Fly for 88.5 points to remain perfect on the season. Qynn Andersen immediately responded for the Rattlers, riding Lightning Show away from his hand for 85.25 points to extend Texas’s lead, but the Outlaws’ Dias got the last laugh, walking off the Rattlers with a 90-point ride aboard Tijuana Two-Step.
The evening concluded with the four winning teams each sending a rider to the Shootout Round, where New York’s Ernie Courson outdueled Kansas City’s Sandro Batista. In front of a roaring Moody Center crowd, Courson leapt out of the chutes first aboard Cy Young and hung on for 88.75 points. Batista immediately followed Courson but was unable to beat his score to win the special round, posting an 88.5-point outing on Red Demon.
PBR Gambler Days continues Saturday, August 24, at 7:45 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com and PBR.com, Moody Center Box Office, or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727.
Merit Street Media will broadcast all three days of action from PBR Gambler Days. Viewers can 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 Sunday, CBS Television Network will air the Game of the Week beginning at 2 p.m. ET. On-demand replays of all the PBR Teams action will be available the following day on the Merit+ app. RidePass on Pluto TV will also air Teams replays five days later.
Game Recaps
Florida Freedom Overwhelm Nashville Stampede in Opening Game of PBR Teams: Gambler Days
Florida Freedom: 177
Nashville Stampede: 86.5
As action got underway for the first matchup of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Teams: Gambler Days, the Florida Freedom (5-7) defeated the Nashville Stampede (7-6), 177-86.5. After both teams were unable to make the 8 in the opening frame, Alex Cerqueira converted in Florida’s second out for a game-high 89.75 points aboard The Kraken to break the scoreless tie. Looking to respond for the Stampede, Ednelio Almeida stormed out of the chutes atop Barbarosa but was bucked off after a brief 1.64 seconds. The Freedom next turned to Nebraskan Conner Halverson to extend their lead, but Red Reckoning gained the upper hand and unseated his cowboy compatriot after 4.41 seconds to hold the score at 89.75-0. After Nashville’s Cody Teel was unseated by DirtyBru in 3.13 seconds, Florida’s Elizmar Jeremias posted the second ride of the evening on Black Gold for 87.25 points to put the game out of reach, 177 – 0. Despite the game being lost for Nashville, Silvano Alvesrefused to let his team be shut out, converting in the final frame on Coco for 86.5 points. John Crimber attempted to take back the No. 1 spot in the MVP standings in the game’s final out for Florida, but he was bested by Bangarang in 3.11 seconds to close out the opening matchup of the weekend. The Freedom have a bye Saturday evening, while Nashville attempts to bounce back against the Missouri Thunder (5-7) in the third game.
Oklahoma Wildcatters Edge Arizona Ridge Riders as Matos and Aparecido Trade 90-point Rides at Moody Center
Oklahoma Wildcatters: 180
Arizona Ridge Riders: 178.5
As the action heated up during the second game of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Gambler Days inside a raucous Moody Center, the Oklahoma Wildcatters (5-6) hung on to defeat the Arizona Ridge Riders (4-8), 180-178.5. The Wildcatters’ Eduardo Matos posted the first 90-point ride of the weekend to get the scoring started early, topping Flyin Wired for a monstrous 92.5 points, tying for the second-highest ride score during the 2024 PBR Camping World Team Series season. Arizona turned to veteran Eduardo Aparecido to respond, and he did so in a big way, nearly matching Matos by riding Tulsa Time for 91 points. It is the second consecutive weekend the animal athlete from Kelly & Cami Heath and McCoy Rodeo has helped the world’s best riders tally a huge score, as Cassio Dias topped him for 92.5 points to win the Shootout Round in Nashville last Friday. In his first action since being injured on January 20 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Wildcatters’ Austin Richardson leapt out of the chutes on Beef Cake to try and extend Oklahoma’s lead. However, he was unable to find his groove, and the powerful bovine competitor spoiled Richardson’s return from reconstructive knee surgery after 2.86 seconds. After two more buckoffs from Arizona’s Luciano de Castro and Oklahoma’s Kase Hitt, the Ridge Riders turned to veteran Keyshawn Whitehorse. The Utahn has had a resurgent season for Arizona, covering six of his 11 animal athlete opponents, but he was unable to make the 8 on Fire Magic, losing the rope after 5.08 seconds. In the game’s penultimate frame, Josh Frost extended Oklahoma’s lead, riding Gaucho for 87.5 points. After Arizona’s Eli Vastbinder was bucked off by Smooth Criminal in a quick 1.99 seconds, the Wildcatters’ closer Cort McFadden had a chance to put the game away in the final frame. The Texan roared out of the gate on Blown Away, but the animal athlete seized the upper hand and unseated McFadden after 3.37 seconds. Needing an 89.25-point ride to tie the game, the Ridge Riders’ Bruno Carvalho thundered out of the gate on Skippy and made the 8 in front of a roaring Moody Center crowd. Unfortunately for the Brazilian, he was awarded just 87.75 points, leaving the Wildcatters atop the scoreboard for the win. Oklahoma attempts to keep it rolling against the New York Mavericks (5-7) tomorrow evening, while Arizona gets a night off.
Kansas City’s Cassio Dias Walks Off Texas Rattlers with Clutch 90-Point Ride in Final Out
Texas Rattlers: 174.5
Kansas City Outlaws: 178.5
In the third game of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Teams: Gambler Days, the Kansas City Outlaws (8-4) bested the defending champion Texas Rattlers (4-8), 178.5-174.5. The Outlaws, who began the season 3-3, have gone 5-1 since their unsteady start. After the Outlaws’ Sandro Batista was bucked off in 5.65 seconds by Ugly This, the Rattlers’ Brady Fielder gave Texas an early lead by riding Mike’s Motive for 89.25 points. Koltin Hevalow, who entered the weekend No. 6 in the 2024 PBR Teams MVP race, attempted to respond aboard Dirty Hairy Deeds but hit the dirt after a heartbreaking 7.09 seconds. In a position to create a two ride-score lead, Texas’s Daniel Keeping rocketed out of the gate on Spice, but the Texas cowboy got hung up and was called for a slap after 5.09 seconds. In just his second career premier series out, Outlaws rookie Maikon Calixto Rocha broke through for Kansas City, topping Down to Fly for 88.5 points to remain perfect to start his PBR Teams career and bring the Outlaws within one point of the Rattlers. However, Qynn Andersen immediately responded for the Rattlers, putting up his first qualified ride of the season for 85.25 points on Lighting Show to extend Texas’s lead. After Julio Cesar Marques was bested by Buck Nasty in 2.55 seconds, Brady Oleson had a chance to put the game out of reach for the Texas Rattlers. The Idahoan gave the nod and rocketed out of the chutes on Fast Flow, but the powerful bovine competitor quickly seized the upper hand, flipping Oleson to the dirt. While Cassio Dias was initially slated to ride next, he was unable to get out of the chutes, so Rattlers’ closerJoao Ricardo Vieira took center stage. The 40-year-old was unable to convert for Texas, however, and was bucked off by Stryker in 2.32 seconds. Now with the game on the line, 2024 PBR World Champion Dias leapt out of the chutes on Tijuana Two-Step and danced in perfect time with the animal athlete, scoring 90 points to walk off the Rattlers by four points. On Saturday, Texas tries to bounce back against the hometown Austin Gamblers (6-6) in the battle for the Texas Cup, while Kansas City attempts to extend their win streak to five against the league-leading Carolina Cowboys (10-0-1).
New York Mavericks Upset Austin Gamblers to Close Out the First Day of PBR Teams: Gambler Days
New York Mavericks: 173
Austin Gamblers: 88.5
The PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Team Series action inside the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, concluded with the New York Mavericks (5-7) spoiling the Austin Gamblers’ (6-6) return to the Moody Center, 173-88.5, at PBR Teams: Gambler Days. Both teams recorded qualified rides in the opening frame, as New York’s Hudson Bolton covered Barracuda for 86.75 points and Austin’s Dalton Kasel rode Ridin Salty for 88.5 points. Seemingly cognizant of their bovine compatriots surrendering two rides in the first frame, the powerful animal athletes took over during the next six outs, besting all six cowboy opponents. New York’sLeonardo Castro was thrown to the dirt by All Hat No Rattle in 3.42 seconds before the Gamblers’ Kaique Pacheco was similarly dispatched after 4.97 seconds. Davi Henrique de Lima was next up for the Mavericks, but Mongo bested him in 6.59 seconds while Austin’s Ezekiel Mitchell was unseated by Mama’s Boy in 3.34 seconds. New York’s Braidy Randolph was quickly taken care of by Ghost Face in 2.49 seconds before the Gamblers’ Ramon de Lima was downed by Locomotive after a heartbreaking 7.8 seconds. Finally, closer Mauricio Gulla Moreira broke through for the Mavericks, giving them the lead with an 86.25-point ride on Triple Aught. Now in a must-ride situation and needing 84.75 points for the win, the Gamblers turned to their closer, two-time PBR Teams MVP Jose Vitor Leme, the league’s all-time leader in walk-off rides with nine. With his MVP banner hanging in the rafters, the Brazilian superstar, who came in 10-for-13 on the season, roared out of the chutes aboard Haymaker, but the animal athlete seized the upper hand, bucking Leme off in 4.29 seconds. On Saturday, the Mavericks take on the Oklahoma Wildcatters (5-6), while Austin attempts to win the Texas Cup against their in-state rivals, the Texas Rattlers (4-8).
PBR TEAMS: GAMBLER DAYS EVENT STANDINGS – AUGUST 23:
Here are the event standings after the first day of competition for the PBR Camping World Team Series event in Austin, Texas:
1 New York Mavericks 1-0-0 – 261.75
2 Kansas City Outlaws 1-0-0 – 267.00
3 Oklahoma Wildcatters 1-0-0 – 180.00
4 Florida Freedom 1-0-0 – 177.00
5 Arizona Ridge Riders 0-1-0 – 178.75
6 Texas Rattlers 0-1-0 0.000 – 174.50
7 Austin Gamblers 0-1-0 – 88.50
8 Nashville Stampede 0-1-0 – 86.50
Note: The Carolina Cowboys and Missouri Thunder and a bye on August 23.
PBR TEAMS SEASON STANDINGS:
Here are the current Team standings for the regular season after the first day of competition for PBR Teams: Gambler Days in Austin, Texas:
1 Carolina Cowboys 10-0-1 – 2,699.25
2 Kansas City Outlaws 8-4-0 – 2,234.25
3 Nashville Stampede 7-6-0 – 1,808.50
4 Austin Gamblers 6-6-0 – 1,956.25
5 Oklahoma Wildcatters 5-6-1 – 1,873.50
6 Florida Freedom 5-7-0 – 1,708.50
7 Missouri Thunder 5-7-0 – 1,658.75
8 New York Mavericks 5-7-0 – 1,296.75
9 Arizona Ridge Riders 4-8-0 – 1,885.75
10 Texas Rattlers 4-8-0 – 1,736.00
AUGUST 24 GAME SCHEDULE:
Here are the game matchups for the second day of action for PBR Teams: Gambler Days at the Moody Center on Saturday, August 24:
Kansas City Outlaws vs. Carolina Cowboys
New York Mavericks vs. Oklahoma Wildcatters
Nashville Stampede vs. Missouri Thunder
Texas Rattlers vs. Austin Gamblers
Note: The Florida Freedom and Arizona Ridge Riders will have byes on August 24.
AUGUST 25 GAME SCHEDULE:
Here are the game matchups for the final day of PBR Teams: Gambler Days at the Moody Center on Sunday, August 25:
Oklahoma Wildcatters vs. Texas Rattlers
Florida Freedom vs. Arizona Ridge Riders
New York Mavericks vs. Carolina Cowboys
Missouri Thunder vs. Austin Gamblers
Note: The Kansas City Outlaws and Nashville Stampede will have byes on August 25.
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 during a 12-event regular season 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 and two Neutral-site games are planned in Anaheim, CA and Duluth, GA.
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 CBS Television Network, streaming live on Paramount+, and Merit Street Media/Merit+. 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.
