91.45 points keep Arizona Ridge Riders alive as they survive PBR championship elimination by less than 1 point
Aparecido delivers under pressure
The No. 8-seeded Ridge Riders secured the three-team Last Chance Game when veteran Eduardo Aparecido completed an eight-second ride for 91.45 points at T-Mobile Arena. His score, earned aboard Freedom Fighter, was the evening’s highest.
Kansas City’s Maikon Calixton Rocha scored 90.6, while New York’s Marco Rizzo recorded 89.75. Aparecido was Arizona’s only rider to score in the game. Head coach Colby Yates praised Aparecido’s composure during the Paramount+ broadcast, calling him the team’s leader and captain.
Arizona advances through setbacks
Arizona opened the championship with a Ride-In Game against the Florida Freedom and Oklahoma Wildcatters. The Ridge Riders moved on with 257.55 points, ahead of Florida’s 181.00 and Oklahoma’s 174.15.
The Last Chance Game proved more difficult: four of Arizona’s five riders bucked off, leaving Aparecido’s ride to keep the team in contention. Yates described the result as a “very bad win” on the television broadcast and said Arizona needed to improve before facing Missouri.
Missouri awaits in quarterfinals
Arizona will meet the top-seeded Missouri Thunder in the quarterfinals, scheduled for 7:45 p.m. ET on Saturday. Missouri finished the regular season with a 24-11 record; Arizona went 15-20.
The PBR Team Championship is set to conclude Sunday in Las Vegas. Yates said Arizona was excited to advance but would need to ride three or four bulls against a team like Missouri.
Key points
- Eduardo Aparecido scored 91.45 points to send Arizona through the Last Chance Game.
- Arizona edged Kansas City’s 90.6 and New York’s 89.75.
- The Ridge Riders face top-seeded Missouri Thunder at 7:45 p.m. ET Saturday.
- The PBR Team Championship concludes Sunday in Las Vegas.