Well, I've only played APA maybe 2 seasons, and as a good 7 (who occasionally blanked other "regular" 7s) I always had a target on my back, so I got used to playing under a microscope, and making sure to cover all the bases.
I can see how, not being accustomed to having opponents sharkeye every single shot, one could be caught by surprise.
As a better player, these sorts of shenanigans are the main reason I moved to BCA. Better competition, more sportsmanship.. "Steel sharpens steel", and all that.
This scenario does remind me of an interesting scenario back when I was in the Army, stationed in Germany, around 2000. I was playing in a pool tournament at the large rec center near Mannheim, and in the first or second round, I played a woman. Women automatically got 2 games on the wire in a race to 5.
My female opponent was a decent player and managed to get 2 games legitimately, and when I had pocketed the 9 ball in my 5th game, I went over to shake her hand. With a flat look on her face, she said "You only have 4 games." I looked at her with a look of shock on my face that she was pulling this, and then proceeded to describe all 5 winning layouts/combos/caroms/etc.
After I finished, she said, "You only have 4 games." Her fellow, who was sitting there watching the match, took her side. As usual at that time, my wife was THERE, but had gotten bored and wandered off, leaving me no backup. I knew that in the end, it would be their word against mine.
I got pissed, and said "Whatever", and had her rack again. I lost my focus and ran down to one of the last 3/4 balls, and missed a shot, and she won.
Now, I am REALLY pissed. I cut through the rest of the field with a vengeance (including a good player that I played at my last duty station, who knew me only before my game took a huge leap) and got back to the finals.
Where I played a different woman. The USAREUR woman's champ from the year before. And I had to spot her 2 games per set and had to beat her 2 sets. I gave no f*cks, and beat her back to back sets 5-2, 5-3, spot included. The only rack she won she attempted to play a bank shot on the 1 in the corner and banked it so short it comboed in the 9, lol. I feel bad about it now, but I kinda held her responsible for the sins of her sex in that particular tournament.
I never saw either of the women again, and did end up winning a few more tournaments while in Germany.
Long story short... Anger can sometimes immediately zero in your focus. Thought it can be emotionally draining over a longer/tougher tournament.