Brazil grabs cup by the horns

Brazil dominated the Professional Bull Riders World Cup and clinched the championship Sunday at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Brazilians Guilherme Marchi, Renato Nunes and Robson Palermo took the top three places in the individual standings to help amass 1,330.25 points and beat the United States, which placed second with 972 points. Australia (529.5 points) placed third, followed by Canada (350) and Mexico (262.25).

Marchi was named the Most Valuable Player for completing rides on five of six bulls for 432.5 points. Nunes and Palermo both rode four to finish second and third.

"I am happy that I could help us win," Marchi said. "To ride five of six when the bulls were as rank as they were this weekend was special."

It is the second title for Brazil, which won the inaugural event in 2007 in Australia. The winning margin is the largest in the event's four years.

"Our team was much more mature, and the three veterans (Marchi, Nunes, Palermo) we had approached the event differently," team captain Adriana Moraes said. "We were more of a team this year."

The United States won the last two Cups. The Americans were led by PBR points leader Austin Meier, who finished fourth in the individual average with 348.5 points.

"I know that Adriano is proud of his riders, but not as proud as I am of my guys," Team USA captain J.W. Hart said. "Our guys didn't lay down and fought hard. We just came up short in the end."