After Unexpected Defeat, 2X Bull Riding Champion Austin Gamblers Tears Up in Front of Rodeo Crowd

The PBR Team Series held the status of being the biggest event in the rodeo world over the past three months. The series, which was started in 2022, was the first of the team events by the organization; adding to the excitement and emotions. The 2023 season saw its end over the past weekend to crown its second-ever PBR Team Series Champion at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The final day of the series stood to host an intense showdown between the in-state rivals. By the end of the day, it was the Rattlers marching through the ground on a victory lap. However, the celebrations weren’t all that the arena witnessed for the night. As the Texas champions wore their crown, the final ride of the showdown was to reduce the Gamblers’ 27-year-old rider down to tears.

A tough day for the Gamblers’ rodeo stars

If one thoroughly followed the 2023 PBR Team Series, one would likely place Austin Gamblers as the predicted winner. However, on Sunday, the 22nd, it was a different turn of events for the team at Austin. The night featured an intense 5-on-5 match between the two teams heading for the title. As the season neared its end, no one could better take the stage for a last ride than the 2X PBR champion, Jose Vitor Lemme.

The day started off brilliantly for Lemme as he performed his 8th career walk-off ride against Missouri Thunder with 88.75. The ride led the team to inch closer to the title and face the Texas Rattlers before claiming it. The Rattlers’ Vieira and Brady Fielder gave the team a tough start, giving the team a 176.00 point lead. Though Gamblers’ Rafael and Divino helped the roster gain back momentum, the match had already slipped from the team when Lemme entered the arena.

Texas Rattlers were a 355.25 and Gamblers at 175.50 when Lemme took the stage. It was the buck-off experienced by Dalton Kasel and Ramon de Lima that had pushed the team back. However, despite the winning results out, Lemme put up a qualified ride with 89.75 points atop Sugar Smack. The rodeo icon couldn’t hold his tears as he rushed to the railings after his ride. The arena could feel the youngster’s emotions as coach Michael Gaffney comforted the team’s top pick.

Jose Vitor Lemme: Gamblers’ reliance

Jose, at the age of 27 has stood to own some of the coveted accolades. The Brazilian cowboy started riding at the age of 7 only to climb the ladder high and well 20 years later. In 2020, he won his first PBR World Champion title, followed by another in 2021. Apart from that, he also holds the title of the highest-point ride in the history of PBR; 98.75 atop Woopa.

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With the esteemed accolades accompanied by his MVP title in the 2022 Team Championships, Jose was an obvious pick for Austin Gamblers. PBR.com in one of its reports of Austin Gamblers remarked that if the team was looking to compete at the Championships, they would have to rely on Jose Vitor Lemme and Dalton Kasel; and the site wasn’t wrong. As of the latest reports in 2023, Lemme places 5th in the list of the top 30 bull riders in PBR history.

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