"I’m Excited to Be Me Again" - Belmo on Rivalry with EJ, Good Lads, and a Rebuilt Mindset Ahead of the 2026 PBA Season
ThePBA USA vs.
The World Captains Matchdelivered more than just a Sunday exhibition - it offered a rare early-seasonlook at two of the sport’s biggest living legends.
Inside theInternational Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame, on a pair of real wood lanesinstalled without markings or arrows, and human pinsetting machines,EJ Tackett struck 11 of 12 shots to defeat Australian Jason Belmonte266–227.
PBA USA vs.
The World Captains Match EJ Tackett struck 11 of 12 shots to defeat Australian Jason Belmonte266–227 Even though the match’s main purpose was to raise donations for theInternational Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame, Team USA still gained astrategic advantage heading into the April 4 televised finals: lane choice andlineup control.Tackett selected Andrew Anderson and Ethan Fiore tojoin him, while Belmonte chose Jesper Svensson and Dominic Barrett for TeamWorld.
The final roster spot for each team will be awarded based on competitionpoints after the PBA Indiana Classic in March.
The rivalry between Tackett and Belmonte remains one of the definingnarratives of PBA - and Sunday’s match added another chapter.
But for fans - and for Belmonte himself - now entering his 19th season with 15majors, a Super Slam, and a stated goal of reaching 20 major titles, thebigger story is what the year ahead represents.
At 42, the Australian icon has openly acknowledged that the last two yearshave been among the most difficult of his career.
Yet heading into 2026, something feels different.
And Belmonte knows it.
BowlingLife spoke with him in an interview following the CaptainsMatch to talk rivalry, tgood lads, and what he describes as a long-awaitedreturn to feeling like the old self again.
It Was More About a Preview Asked whether the Captains Match carried extra weight, especially given therivalry narrative between him and Tackett, Belmonte brushed off the idea.
“I don’t think this match was about making a statement.
The environment wasunique and the atmosphere was cool, but I doubt very much either EJ or myselfused this match as a statement match.
It was more about a preview and teamselections.” The Winning Trio Team World, led by Jason Belmonte, won the last two editions of PBA USA vs.The World - sweeping Team USA in 2023 and winning again in 2019.
Belmonte didn't think that Sunday’s result carries any weightheading into the April 4 event, especially since he’ll once again rely on thesame winning trio.
His selections for Team World mirror the winning 2023 lineup: Dom Barrett and JesperSvensson.
And according to Belmonte, the reasons go far beyond their résumés.
A Rebuilt Mindset In the last two seasons, Belmo was always somewhere in the contest for thetitles, cashing in neary every PBA Tour event.
But despite finishing 3rd inpoints last season and 5th in 2024, Belmonte has only two titles across hislast three campaigns - a stark contrast to the five titles he collected in2022 alone.
Belmonte acknowledged how difficult the last few yearshave been and shared, how much sweat he put in to change that.
“I’ve worked really hard on having a strong 2026.
I’ve worked out more than Iever have.
4–5 times a week for 5 months.
I’ve redefined my physical gameslightly.
Re-engineered parts of it.
However the biggest change has beenmentally.
It has been a very difficult couple years for me mentally and Isuffered through it.
I feel much healthier and happier now which has releasedthe version of old of me.
I’m excited to be me again on the lanes.” If Belmo truly feels like himself again, the PBA may be heading toward one ofits most 'BOOM' seasons in years - and perhaps the beginning of another pushtoward the 20 majors Belmonte been chasing for the last decade.
It won't take long for the fans to see if Belmo's hard work payed off, as thenew PBA Tour season starts today in Arlington, Texas, with the first majortitle on the line - PBA Players Championship.
The qualification will take place from Tuesday, February 17, until Friday,February 20, with the first broadcast on Sunday, February 22 at 4 p.m.
EasternonThe CW.
The CW.
