(Editor's note: PBR media release)
LAS VEGAS - The opening game of Challenge Day 5 of the PBR Monster Team Challenge, presented by U.S. Border Patrol, featured the tournament’s juggernaut taking on a surging team seeking a move up the standings when undefeated divisional No. 1 Team Cooper Tires went head-to-head against a resilient No. 4 Team Wrangler
Team Cooper Tires Narrowly Edges a Resilient Team Wrangler to Remain Perfect in PBR’s New Team Challenge
Team Cooper Tires: 173 points
Team Wrangler: 170.25 points
While 2018 PBR Rookie of the Year Keyshawn Whitehorse (McCracken Springs, Utah) elevated Team Cooper Tires to an early lead courtesy of his 84.5-point ride aboard Squeeze Box (Hodges/Shuler), Team Wrangler quickly answered with a qualified ride of its own. Brennon Eldred (Sulphur) gritted to a closely reviewed 81.5-point score as he clung to the side of Livin Lucky (JD Nix Rodeo Co.) until the clock reached the requisite 8 seconds. Holding just a slim 3-point lead, Captain Jose Vitor Leme (RIbas do Rio Pardo, Brazil), the last man to erupt from the chutes for Team Cooper Tires, needed to post a score to keep his team’s pursuit of perfection alive, with their opponent still having two bulls to attempt. Leme, who had been bucked off in an uncharacteristic 1.79-seconds aboard his first draw Armed & Dangerous (Hart Cattle Company), rebounded by dominating Red Rocker (Bland Bucking Bulls) for an ever-important 88.5 points, giving Team Cooper Tires a 91.5-point lead. Team Wrangler Captain Colten Jesse (Konawa, Oklahoma) wasn’t able to convert aboard Crossfired (JD Nix Rodeo Co.), putting Roscoe Jarboe (New Plymouth, Idaho) in a must-ride situation. While Jarboe delivered a much needed score for his team aboard Sitting Bull (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Diamond Willow), his game-high 88.75-point marks weren’t enough to complete what would have been the upset of the tournament. Undefeated and the No. 1 seed of the division, Team Cooper Tires will face No. 2 Team Las Vegas on Sunday in their final divisional game of the tournament. The game is a rematch from Challenge Day 4 when Team Cooper Tires bested Team Las Vegas 259.25-84.5. Leme also solidified his position atop the Built Ford Tough MVP race via his 1-for-2 showing Saturday evening. He now leads No. 2 Jarboe by 346 points. Consequently, Team Wrangler, who slipped to No. 5 in Division A, is now eliminated from the race to advance to the championship in Sioux Falls, South Dakota July 10-12. They will compete in their final game on Sunday when they square off against No. 6 Team YETI who they defeated Friday night on Challenge Day 4.
“All of us have had the same reaction he has nodded his head – wow,” RidePass commentator Matt West said of Team Cooper Tires’ Jose Vitor Leme.
“It’s bringing fresh guys in,” Team Cooper Tires’ Keyshawn Whitehorse said of the contingent’s General Manager Cody Lambert and his roster rotation strategy. “We all can ride. If you can come in feeling good it helps the team.”
“Jose has been the standalone leader and he has carried this team on his back,” Team Cooper Tires’ Stetson Lawrence added. “There is no doubt about that. We’re happy to be winning.”
“I buckoff on the first bull, but I come back to the second,” Leme said. “I just forget about the first one. I thank god for another game won.”
“This team environment has been great and it starts with the head of the snake,” Team Cooper Tires’ Sage Kimzey concluded. “Jose has been nothing besides extraordinary. He leads by example and I think all of us have really bought into the team environment.”
Team Las Vegas Outlasts a Resilient Team Can-Am to Advance to PBR Team Challenge Championship
Team Las Vegas: 175.25 points
Team Can-Am: 89.25 points
Following the fiercely contested slug match that began Challenge Day 5, Saturday night’s second game was decided by the final out, when Team Las Vegas outlasted a resilient Team Can-Am, 175.25-89.25, becoming the second team from Division A to earn a berth to the PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge Championship in Sioux Falls, South Dakota July 10-12. Eager to avenge their first defeat of the tournament suffered Friday night, Team Las Vegas was the first to strike, putting early points on the board inside the Pendleton Whiskey Let ‘Er Buck Saloon at South Point Arena via Chase Dougherty’s (Canby, Oregon) 86.5-point trip aboard Gambini (Dakota Rodeo/Julie Rosen/Clay Struve/Chad Berger). However, the celebration was short lived. Rafael dos Santos (Sebastianopolis, Brazil) responded by reaching the 8 aboard Big City (Plummer/Hart Cattle Co.) for a massive 89.25 points to give Team Can-Am, fresh off a win on Challenge Day 4, a critical 2.75-point lead. While the bull power dominated in the subsequent five outs, Team Las Vegas Captain Stetson Wright (Milford, Utah) put his team back in front when he covered All It Takes (M Rafter E Bucking Bulls/Miller Farms) for 86 points. Needing just an 86.25-point score to propel his team to victory, the game’s fate was left in the hands of a banged up Ezekiel Mitchell (Rockdale, Texas) who had been stepped on Friday night. A visibly pained Mitchell was bucked off in 1.8 seconds by Rising Sun (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Heald Pro Bulls), dashing Team Can-Am’s hopes of victory. In the divisional standings, both Team Las Vegas and Team Can-Am retained their ranking, exiting the game No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. Before heading for the Championship playoffs, Team Las Vegas will face No. 1 Team Cooper Tires in their final divisional game. Team Cooper Tires is the lone team to have beaten the Sin City contingent, outlasting them on Friday night. Team Can-Am will compete in their most crucial game of the tournament – a must-win face off against No. 4 Team Union Home Mortgage in the CBS Game of the Week on Sunday. Both teams have two wins through the first five games; the victor will punch their ticket to South Dakota, while the loser will return home.
“What a win right here for Team La Vegas,” five-time PBR World Finals qualifier turned RidePass commentator Colby Yates said. “This only gives every other team behind Can-Am hope to pull this out and get inside the Top 3.”
“Well after that first one I could just here my dad saying ride for 10,” Team Las Vegas Captain Stetson Wright said. “On that second one he was just as hard to ride, if not harder, and I gritted through it.”
“We kind of came in as the underdogs and I guess we just don’t know how to quit,” Team Las Vegas’ Garret Smith added. “We’ll hang out until our heads hit the ground.”
Young Gun Mason Taylor Pioneers Team Union Home Mortgage’s Perseverant Win Against Team YETI to Keep Championship Hopes Alive
Team Union Home Mortgage: 88 points
Team YETI: 87.5 points
LAS VEGAS – When Team Union Home Mortgage and Team YETI squared off in the final game of Challenge Day 5 for the PBR Monster Energy Tour, presented by U.S. Border Patrol, the stakes were higher than ever. While the showdown would still yield a winner and loser, it would more importantly determine which contingent would remain in the running for the final Division A berth to the championship in Sioux Falls, South Dakota July 10-12. Completing the trifecta of narrowly decided games from Challenge Day 5, Team Union Home Mortgage recorded a perseverant 0.5-point victory against Team YETI to keep its championship hopes alive. Team Union Home Mortgage’s lone ride was recorded early in the night on the team’s second out of the game, when young gun Mason Taylor (Maypearl, Texas) delivered a dominant 88-point ride aboard Dynamite Cap (Hart Cattle Co./Randy Wood) to give the contingent an early lead. As the bull power proved dominant in the game, the fast score kept Team Union Home Mortgage in firm control of the lead for the subsequent eight outs. However, once Major Threat (M Rafter E Bucking Bulls) was loaded into the chutes, a potential come-from-behind upset began to brew. In a last-minute change, Team YETI alternate Jordan Spears (Redding, California) was slated to attempt the bovine athlete, activated in replacement of Cole Melancon (Paris, Texas) who had been sidelined after aggravating a pre-existing right knee injury that has plagued him the duration of the tournament. While Spears had yet to find success aboard his previous seven bulls, under pressure, the Californian delivered. Despite making the 8 aboard Major Threat, however, Spears’ 87.5-point marks fell just short of the points his team needed. Courtesy of the win, Team Union Home Mortgage rose from No. 5 to No. 4 in the divisional standings, and advanced to the CBS Game of the Week on Sunday when they will go head-to-head against No. 3 Team Can-Am for the final berth to South Dakota. Not only will Team Union Home Mortgage be eager to win for championship implications, but they will also be keen to avenge the 173.25-0 shutout suffered on Friday at the hands of Team Can-Am. In their final game, however, Team Union Home Mortgage will need to contend with the numerous injuries the roster suffered Saturday evening. In addition to Captain Silvano Alves (Pilar do Sul, Brazil) being sidelined after he aggravated a pre-existing left hip injury, yielding him questionable for Sunday, Luciano de Castro (Guzolandia, Brazil) was also in visible pain following both of his outs. While No. 6 Team YETI is no longer in contention for the championship, they will compete in their final game on Sunday morning when they face off against No. 5 Team Wrangler.
“I had it really, really sticky today, and I think that is why I stayed on the first one,” Team Union Home Mortgage’s Mason Taylor said. “Just finally glad I could contribute to my team.”
“Everybody is happy, but tomorrow is the next day and next game,” Team Union Home Mortgage Captain Silvano Alves added. “Just ride each bull tomorrow, and everybody is ready.”
“I try to go every bull one jump at a time,” Team Union Home Mortgage’s Marcus Mast said after being activated following Alves’ injury. “If you do that it shouldn’t matter what bull you get on. If you do that, you should be able to do your job.
INJURY UPDATES
OUT: 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.
OUT: 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, and is questionable for Sunday.
QUESTIONABLE: Team Las Vegas’ Chase Dougherty sustained a concussion when he collided with Anthrax Jr.’s head. He is questionable for Challenge Day 6.
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.
COMPETING: Team Union Home Mortgage’s Mason Taylor is riding with a chronic right wrist sprain. Taylor initially irritated the existing ailment while attempting Short Pop on Challenge Day 2.
COMPETING: Team Wrangler’s Brennon Eldred is competing with sore ribs.
YETI “BUILT FOR THE WILD” BULL OF THE WEEKEND STANDINGS
Here are the Top 5 bull scores recorded on Challenge Day 4 and Challenge Day 5 of the 2020 PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by U.S. Border Patrol:
1. 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)
3. Space Force (Dakota Rodeo/Berger/Struve/Heald Pro Bulls) – 44.25 points (Challenge Day 5 – Garrett Smith, 3.58 seconds)
4. Big Black Cat (Dakota Rodeo/Berger/Struve/Heald Pro Bulls) – 44 points (Challenge Day 4 – Fabiano Vieira, 3.24 seconds)
Crossover (Hodges/Shuler) – 44 points (Challenge Day 5 – Luciano de Castro, 2.91 seconds)
DIVISION A STANDINGS
Here are the current standings for Division A after Challenge Days 1-5 of the 2020 PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by U.S. Border Patrol:
1. Team Cooper Tires, 5-0-0-1,276.25 points
2. Team Las Vegas, 4-1-0-776.75 points
3. Team Can-Am, 2-3-0-783.25 points
4. Team Union Home Mortgage, 2-3-0-598.75 points (+1)
5. Team Wrangler, 1-4-0-687 points (-1)
6. Team YETI, 1-4-0-514.75 points
BUILT FORD TOUGH MVP STANDINGS
Here are the current 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 5:
1. Jose Vitor Leme, 8-for-10, 693.5 points
2. Roscoe Jarboe, 4-for-10, 347.5 points (+1)
3. Stetson Wright, 3-for-10, 261.75 points (+6)
4. Chase Dougherty, 3-for-8, 260 points (+8)
5. Derek Kolbaba, 3-for-10, 259.25 points (-3)
6. Colten Jesse, 3-for-10, 258 points (-2)
Luciano de Castro, 3-for-9, 258 points (-2)
8. Mauricio Moreira, 3-for-10, 257.75 points (-2)
9. Garrett Smith, 3-for-10, 255 points (-2)
10. Sage Kimzey, 3-for-9, 254.5 points (-2)
11. Rafael dos Santos, 2-for-3, 175.75 points (+4)
12. Ezekiel Mitchell, 2-for-9, 175.25 points (-2)
13. Fabiano Vieira, 2-for-8, 174.5 points (-2)
14. Mason Taylor, 2-for-8, 173.75 points (+2)
Stetson Lawrence, 2-for-7, 173.75 points (-2)
16. Silvano Alves, 2-for-9, 167 points (-2)
17. Keyshawn Whitehorse, 2-for-4, 154.5 points (+2)
18. Jordan Spears, 1-for-8, 87.5 points (NEW)
19. Eli Vastbinder, 1-for-6, 85.75 points (-3)
20. Cole Melancon, 1-for-6, 82.25 points (-2)
21. Brennon Eldred, 1-for-6, 81.5 points (NEW)
CHALLENGE DAY 6 MATCHUPS
Here are the game matchups for Challenge Day 6 on Sunday, June 14, for Division A of the 2020 PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by U.S. Border Patrol:
No. 5 Team Wrangler vs. No. 6 Team Union Home Mortgage
No. 1 Team Cooper Tires vs. No. 2 Team Las Vegas
* No. 3 Team Can-Am vs. No. 4 Team Union Home Mortgage
Challenge Day 6 for the 2020 PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by U.S. Border Patrol, gets underway on Sunday, June 14 with the final three games of Division A. After CBS Sports Network LIVE covers the opening two games from Challenge Day 6 starting at 11:00 a.m. ET, CBS Sports will bring viewers LIVE coverage of the Game of the Week. The LIVE broadcast telecast will begin at 1:00 p.m. ET. RidePass‘ LIVE coverage of all three games will begin at 11:00 a.m. ET on RidePass.com or via the mobile app.
