Team Brazil Finalizes Roster Ahead of 2020 PBR Global Cup USA

By: Kacie Albert

PUEBLO, Colo. – Seeking their third consecutive PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Global Cup Championship, Team Brazil has announced the final four riders set to represent the South American nation at the 2020 WinStar World Casino and Resort PBR Global Cup USA, presented by Monster Energy.

The fourth edition of the PBR Global Cup, the only nation vs. nation bull riding competition, will make its second stop at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on February 15-16, 2020. The new team tournament debuted in Edmonton, Alberta, in November 2017, visited Sydney, Australia, in June 2018, and most recently stopped in Arlington this past February.

Led by head coach Guilherme Marchi (Tres Lagoas, Brazil) and assistant Robson Palermo (Rio Branco, Brazil), Eduardo Aparecido (Gouvelandia, Brazil), Alan de Souza (Taubate, Brazil), Dener Barbosa (Paulo de Faria, Brazil) and alternate Ramon de Lima (Rio Branco, Brazil) will complete Team Brazil.

They join the already-announced, powerhouse trio of Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil), 2018 PBR World Champion and current world No. 1 Kaique Pacheco (Itatiba, Brazil) and Luciano de Castro (Guzolandia, Brazil).

 
Of the newly named quartet of riders, Aparecido adds the most Global Cup experience, now a four-time selection to Team Brazil.

After going 1-for-2 in the nation’s runner-up effort at the inaugural PBR Global Cup in Canada, the now 29-year-old has been flawless at each subsequent edition of the event in Australia and the United States.

At the 2018 PBR Global Cup Australia, Aparecido went 2-for-2 in the nation’s first march to victory at the event akin to the “Olympics of bull riding.” He followed that with a flawless 3-for-3 outing during the Global Cup’s United States debut inside AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Much the opposite of Aparecido, Souza is preparing to make his Global Cup debut in February 2020 inside the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.

Souza took the bull riding world by storm in 2019.

Winning an early season Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT) event in Columbia, South Carolina, the Brazilian phenom became a consistent presence on the elite Unleash The Beast (UTB) in the second half. Catching fire as the season wound to a close, Souza won back-to-back events, on the PWVT in Portland, Maine, and UTB in Minneapolis, to solidify his career-first berth to the prestigious PBR World Finals.

 
He capped his season with a third-place finish at the PBR World Finals, followed by an event win at the 2019 PBR Brazil Finals to propel him to the nation championship. He ended the year a career-high No. 12 in the world.

For both Barbosa and alternate Lima, they will be returning to Team Brazil after making their lone appearance on the national team for the June 2018 edition of the event in Australia. Both riders went 1-for-2 as Team Brazil won its first Global Cup Championship.

Tickets for the 2020 WinStar World Casino and Resort PBR Global Cup USA, presented by Monster Energy are on sale now and start at just $10. They can be purchased at the AT&T Stadium Box Office, online at ATTStadium.com or SeatGeek.com, or via the phone at (800) 732-1727.

For more information on the event, including premium experience and elite seats offerings, visit PBR.com/GlobalCup.

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