Mauricio Moreira Converts Under Pressure in Game’s Final Out to Propel Team Can-Am to PBR Team Challenge Playoffs in Sioux Falls

Photos courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media

SCORE BULLETIN – CHALLENGE DAY 6

Team Wrangler Concludes PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge on a Winning Note after Outlasting Team YETI on Challenge Day 6

Team Wrangler: 176.25 points

Team YETI: 88.25 points

LAS VEGAS – On the final day of competition for Division A play in PBR’s new team tournament, No. 5 Team Wrangler prevailed 176.25-88.25 in a narrowly contested game against No. 6 Team YETI, backed by a monstrous 89-point score from Captain Colten Jesse (Konawa, Oklahoma). As the Challenge Day 6 game begun, Team Wrangler’s Roscoe Jarboe (New Plymouth, Idaho) was the first to strike, covering Jungle Can Do (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Diamond Willow) for 87.25 points. The lead, however, was short lived. In the very next out, Team YETI Captain Derek Kolbaba (Walla Walla, Washington) delivered a crucial 88.25-point ride aboard Acting Crazy (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Staci Wilks/N Bar Ranch) to give his team a one-point lead. With each team having just three outs remaining, Jesse quickly restored Team Wrangler’s position atop the leaderboard, scoring a critical 89 points aboard Short Pop (Hart Cattle Co./Hale). The score gave Jesse’s team an 88-point lead, enough to cement the Team Wrangler victory, as neither team was able to convert aboard dominant bull power in the subsequent four outs. Despite their second victory, Team Wrangler will miss the playoffs for the PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by U.S. Border Patrol, concluding the tournament 2-4, ranked No. 4 in Division A. In the Built Ford Tough MVP race, Jarboe and Jesse were the roster’s Top 2 riders. Jarboe is currently second in the race amongst the individual riders, going 5-for-12 to trail No. 1 Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil) by 344.75 points. Jesse concluded Sunday fifth in the MVP standings, 432.5 points behind Leme. Team YETI, which will also miss the playoffs, left Las Vegas with a 1-5 record, finishing Division A ranked No. 6. Captain Kolbaba led the contingent, presently No. 4 in the MVP race, 432 points removed from the No. 1 position.

“I’m really disappointed that we’re not going to see Team Wrangler back after this win,” five-time PBR World Finals Qualifier turned RIdePass commentator Colby Yates said.

“We kind of got off to a rocky start, but we’ve got a tough set of guys and none of them ever quit,” Team Wrangler Captain Colten Jesse said. “I feel like we capped if off pretty good. Not pleased with it, but can’t complain.”

“I’m so proud to be on this team,” Team Wrangler’s Brennon Eldred concluded. “I didn’t contribute much to it, but my hats off to these guys for cowboying up and getting the job done. There is no team I‘d rather be on.”

Dominant Team Cooper Tires Shuts out Team Las Vegas to Secure First Round Bye in PBR Team Challenge Playoffs

Team Cooper Tires: 259 points

Team Las Vegas: 0 points

LAS VEGAS – No. 1 Team Cooper Tires concluded its perfect sweep of Division A competition of PBR’s new team competition on a dominant note, with a 259-0 shutout victory against the divisional No. 2 Team Las Vegas. Stetson Lawrence (Williston, North Dakota) was the first to strike for Team Cooper Tires inside the Pendleton Whisky Let ‘Er Buck Saloon at South Point Arena, covering Smokin’ Gun (Hodges/Shuler) for 86.25 points. Captain Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil) then extended his contingent’s lead with an 86-point ride aboard Rocko (M Rafter E Bucking Bulls). As the riders then prepared to attempt their second bull of the game, Team Cooper Tires’ depth was on full display. With six-time, and reigning PRCA Bull Riding Champion Sage Kimzey (Strong City, Oklahoma) injured while attempting Drago (M Rafter E Bucking Bulls), 2018 PBR Rookie of the Year Keyshawn Whitehorse (McCracken Springs, Utah) was activated to attempt Bring The Heat (Cooper/Scruggs/Scarborough). Undeterred by the short-order ask, Whitehorse reached the 8-second whistle for a game-high 86.75 points. In addition to concluding divisional action of the PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by U.S. Border Patrol, a perfect 6-0, Team Cooper Tires outscored their opponents 1535.25-430.25. The talent-packed roster also concluded Division A atop the standings for most bulls ridden (18) and riding percentage (50%). Undefeated Team Cooper Tires now advances to the PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge Championship with a bye in the first round of the playoffs.  Despite the loss, Team Las Vegas finished divisional action No. 2 with a 4-2 record, suffering both of their losses at the hands of Team Cooper Tires. Team Las Vegas will also advance to the playoffs alongside Team Cooper Tires, with the trio of playoff-bound teams completed by No. 3 Team Can-Am. In the Built Ford Tough MVP race, Leme remains in firm control, going 9-for-12 to amass a 344.75-point lead over No. 2 Roscoe Jarboe (New Plymouth, Idaho). Team Las Vegas Captain Stetson Wright (Milford, Utah) leads his team in the individual race, ranked No. 6 and 517.75 points behind Leme. In the bullpen, the Sunday game between Team Cooper Tires and Team Las Vegas also featured the YETI “Built for the Wild” Bull of the Weekend. In the out that sidelined Kimzey, Drago delivered a weekend-high 45.75-point bull score as he sent the Oklahoman to the ground in a swift 2.37 seconds.

“I buck off my last bull, so I just thank god for the help of this team,” Team Cooper Tires Captain Jose Vitor Leme said. “I am very happy and grateful. We rode a lot of bulls today, and the other days.”

“That’s one round we can get knocked out of the way,” Team Cooper Tires’ Keyshawn Whitehorse added of the roster’s first round bye at the championship in South Dakota. “Save our bodies and save our mental energy.”

Young Gun Mauricio Moreira Propels Team Can-Am to Dramatic, 0.75-point, Come-from-Behind Victory against Team Union Home Mortgage to Earn Berth to PBR Team Challenge Playoffs

Team Can-Am: 173.5 points

Team Union Home Mortgage: 172.75 points

LAS VEGAS – A dramatic walk-off winning ride by young gun Mauricio Moieira (Gaviao Peixoto, Brazil) pushed Team Can-Am into the playoffs of PBR’s new team competition in the final game of Division A play on Sunday at South Point Arena in Las Vegas. With the final berth to the PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge playoffs in Sioux Falls, South Dakota July 10-12 on the line, No. 3 Team Can-Am went head-to-head with No. 4 Team Union Home Mortgage in the CBS Game of the Week in a thrilling matchup decided by the final out. The high-pressure ride-or-go-home moment was architected after Team Union Home Mortgage surged to an 84.75-point lead over Team Can-Am ahead of the final bull. While Mason Taylor (Maypearl, Texas) was the first to strike for Team Union Home Mortgage, covering The Tickler (Dakota Rodeo-Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Ken Barnhard) for 86.5 points, Marcus Mast (Middlebury, Indiana) delivered the go-ahead score. Called upon to ride with just moments notice, activated in place of an injured Taylor, Mast converted aboard Bubba G (M Rafter E/High View Cattle) for a critical 86.5 points. After three consecutive buckoffs were logged, the fate of both teams rested in the hands of Luciano de Castro (Guzolandia, Brazil) and Moreira. If Castro rode, he would clinch the victory for Team Union Home Mortgage;  failing to make the 8 would leave the door wide open for Moreira and a resilient Team Can-Am. Matched up with Monkey Doo (M Rafter E/High View Cattle), Castro came down in a swift 3 seconds, shifting all the pressure to Rookie of the Year contender Moreira, who had recorded his team’s only prior score, an 88-point trip on Diamond Willow (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Diamond Willow). The 20-year-old remained collected under pressure as he dominated Skitso (EVP Bucking Bulls), marked a crucial 85.5 points, enabling Team Can-Am to leap frog Team Union Home Mortgage on the leaderboard for a 173.5-172.75 victory. Concluding Division A as the No. 3-ranked team with a 3-3 record, Team Can-Am will advance to the PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge playoffs alongside No. 1 Team Cooper Tires (6-0) and No. 2 Team Las Vegas (4-2). Compliments of his 2-for-2 showing on Sunday, Moreira now leads his team in the Built Ford Tough MVP race. Going 5-for-12, Moreira trails No. 1 Jose Vitor Leme (RIbas do Rio Pardo, Brazil) by 348.25 points. Team Union Home Mortgage’s time competing in the PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge concluded with a No. 5 ranking in Division A after logging a 2-4 record. The team’s efforts were championed by Taylor who in going 3-for-9 concluded Challenge Day 6 tied for seventh in the Built Ford Tough MVP race, 519.5 points behind Leme.

“I couldn’t be happier for my team,” Team Can-Am’s Ezekiel Mitchell said. “Mauricio really did his thing today. We might have lagged in some areas, but everyone tried their guts out. I couldn’t be happier to be part of this team.”

“We just have to come back and be better than ever,” Mitchell continued. “Keep an aggressive mentality. We didn’t perform like we wanted to this week, but it will all come together, and we’ll be all healthy and rested for Sioux Falls.”

SCORE RECAPS – CHALLENGE DAYS 1-5

CHALLENGE DAY 1: New PBR Team Tournament Launches with a Blowout, Shutout and Dramatic Seesaw Battle at South Point Arena in Las Vegas

Team Cooper Tires (1-0) Defeats Team Can-Am (0-1) │ 336.25-87

Team Las Vegas (1-0) Defeats Team YETI (0-1) │ 88.25-0

Team Union Home Mortgage (1-0) Defeats Team Wrangler (0-1) │ 337-257.25

CHALLENGE DAY 2: Powerhouse Shutouts, Gritty Rides and High Adrenaline Action Headline Challenge Day 2

Team Can-Am (1-1) Defeats Team Wrangler (0-2) │ 347.25-0

Team Las Vegas (2-0) Defeats Team Union Home Mortgage (1-1) │ 257-85.25

Team Cooper Tires (2-0) Defeats Team YETI (0-2) │ 332-0

CHALLENGE DAY 3: Team Cooper Tires Builds Sizeable Lead with Third Consecutive Win to Conclude First Weekend of New PBR Team Challenge

Team Las Vegas (3-0) Defeats Team Wrangler (0-3) │ 175.75-0

Team YETI (1-2) Defeats Team Can-Am (1-2) │ 173-86.5

Team Cooper Tires (3-0) Defeats Team Union Home Mortgage (1-2) │ 175.75-88.5

CHALLENGE DAY 4: Unstoppable Team Cooper Tires and Resurgent Team Wrangler Headline Explosive Action from Challenge Day 4 of New PBR Team Challenge

Team Can-Am (2-2) Defeats Team Union Home Mortgage │ 173.25-0

Team Wrangler (1-3) Defeats Team YETI │ 259.5-254.25

Team Cooper Tires (4-0) Defeats Team Las Vegas │ 259.25-84.5

CHALLENGE DAY 5: Dramatic Finishes on Challenge Day 5 of PBR Team Challenge Architect Must-Win Game for Final Division A Championship Berth

Team Cooper Tires (5-0) Defeats Team Wrangler (1-4) │ 173-170.25

Team Las Vegas (4-1) Defeats Team Can-Am (2-3) │ 175.25-89.25

Team Union Home Mortgage (2-3) Defeats Team Team YETI (1-4) │ 88-87.5

INJURY UPDATES

OUT: Team Union Home Mortgage’s Mason Taylor was sidelined following his first bull of Challenge Day 6 after aggravating a pre-existing right wrist injury. Marcus Mast was activated in his absence. Taylor initially irritated the existing ailment while attempting Short Pop on Challenge Day 2.

OUT: Team YETI’s Eli Vastbinder is out with an apparent broken left collarbone (free arm) sustained when he bucked off his first bull on Sunday. He did not attempt his second bull.

OUT: Team Wrangler’s Brennon Eldred, who was competing with sore ribs, did not attempt his second bull on Sunday.

COMPETING: Team YETI’s Cole Melancon aggravated a pre-existing right knee injury while attempting Blue Stone on Challenge Day 5. He did not attempt his second bull of the game. He returned to competition on Sunday to replace an injured Vastbinder.

COMPETING: Team Union Home Mortgage Captain Silvano Alves was sidelined after he aggravated a pre-existing left hip injury when he bucked off Oz on Challenge Day 5. He did not attempt his second bull of the game, and is questionable for Sunday.

COMPETING: Team YETI Captain Derek Kolbaba sustained a concussion on Challenge Day 5 while attempting RJ, his second bull of the game. He cleared concussion protocol on Sunday and returned to competition.

COMPETING: Team Las Vegas’ Chase Dougherty sustained a concussion when he collided with Anthrax Jr.’s head. He cleared concussion protocol on Sunday and returned to competition

COMPETING: Team Can-Am’s Ezekiel Mitchell did not attempt his second bull against Team Union Home Mortgage after getting hung-up while attempting Haboob and being stepped on Challenge Day 4. He returned to competition on Challenge Day 5.

COMPETING: Team Wrangler’s Roscoe Jarboe is competing with a bruised right shoulder initially sustained on Challenge Day 1 when he was stepped on by War Wagon.

COMPETING: Team Union Home Mortgage’s Luciano de Castro is competing with an aggravated chronic right hip injury. He re-aggravated the injury while attempting Paint The Town on Challenge Day 2.

YETI “BUILT FOR THE WILD” BULL OF THE WEEKEND STANDINGS

Here are the Top 5 bull scores recorded on Challenge Day 4, Challenge Day 5 and Challenge Day 6 of the 2020 PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by U.S. Border Patrol:

1. Drago (M Rafter E Bucking Bulls) – 45.75 points (Challenge Day 6 – Sage Kimzey, 2.37 seconds)*
2. Drago (M Rafter E Bucking Bulls) – 44.75 points (Challenge Day 4 – Mason Taylor, 3.25 seconds)

Bubba G (M Rafter E/High View Cattle) – 44.75 points (Challenge Day 4 – Stetson Lawrence, 2.2 1 seconds)

4. Space Force (Dakota Rodeo/Berger/Struve/Heald Pro Bulls) – 44.25 points (Challenge Day 5 – Garrett Smith, 3.58 seconds)

Milk Man (TNT Bucking Bulls/Hart Cattle Co.) – 44.25 points (Challenge Day 6 – Roscoe Jarboe, 3.83 seconds)

Blue Fire (Cooper/Scruggs Bucking Bulls) – 44.25 points (Challenge Day 6 – Chase Dougherty, 2.48 seconds)

* Note: This indicates the YETI “Built for the Wild” Bull of the Weekend.

DIVISION A STANDINGS

Here are the final standings for Division A after Challenge Days 1-6 of the 2020 PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by U.S. Border Patrol:

1. Team Cooper Tires, 6-0-0-1,535.25 points
2. Team Las Vegas, 4-2-0-776.75 points
3. Team Can-Am, 3-3-0-956.75 points
4. Team Wrangler, 2-4-0-863.25 points (+1)
5. Team Union Home Mortgage, 2-4-0-771.5 points (-1)
6. Team YETI, 1-5-0-603 points

BUILT FORD TOUGH MVP STANDINGS

Here are the standings for the Built Ford Tough MVP race for the 2020 PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by U.S. Border Patrol after Challenge Day 6:

1. Jose Vitor Leme, 9-for-12, 779.5 points
2. Roscoe Jarboe, 5-for-12, 434.75 points
3. Mauricio Moreira, 5-for-12, 431.25 points (+5)
4. Derek Kolbaba, 4-for-12, 347.5 points (+1)
5. Colten Jesse, 4-for-12, 347 points (+1)
6. Stetson Wright, 3-for-12, 261.75 points (-3)
7. Mason Taylor, 3-for-9, 260 points (+7)

Stetson Lawrence, 3-for-9, 260 points (+7)

Chase Dougherty, 3-for-10, 260 points (-3)

10. Luciano de Castro, 3-for-11, 258 points (-4)
11. Garrett Smith, 3-for-10, 255 points (-2)
12. Sage Kimzey, 3-for-10, 254.5 points (-2)
13. Keyshawn Whitehorse, 3-for-5, 241.25 points (+4)
14. Rafael dos Santos, 2-for-5, 175.75 points (-3)
15. Ezekiel Mitchell, 2-for-9, 175.25 points (-3)
16. Fabiano Vieira, 2-for-10, 174.5 points (-3)
17. Silvano Alves, 2-for-11, 167 points (-1)
18. Jordan Spears, 1-for-10, 87.5 points
19. Marcus Mast, 1-for-5, 86.5 points (NEW)
20. Eli Vastbinder, 1-for-6, 85.75 points (-1)
21. Cole Melancon, 1-for-8, 82.25 points (-1)
22. Brennon Eldred, 1-for-7, 81.5 points (-1)

CHALLENGE DAY 7 MATCHUPS

Here are the game matchups for Challenge Day 7 on Friday, June 19, for the first games of Division B of the 2020 PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by U.S. Border Patrol:

Team Ariat                                       vs.          Team Lucas Oil

Team Boot Barn                              vs.          Team CAT

Team Pendleton Whisky                vs.          Team South Point

Challenge Day 7 for the 2020 PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by U.S. Border Patrol, gets underway on Friday, June 19 with the first three games of Division B. CBS Sports Network and RidePass will bring viewers LIVE coverage of all the action beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET. CBS Sports will again broadcast the Game of the Week on Sunday.

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