I thought Johnny got a couple bad breaks in the final set against Bustamante, once when some guy jabbering loudly over near the door to the room wouldn't shut up, and then when Mitch Laurence raised his voice up in the commentary booth as Johnny was shooting a 2-ball down the rail. It was loud enough for almost everyone to hear, and Johnny definitely got distracted by it, and looked up at the booth after he missed the 2. Johnny was on the hill at that point, and had just made a great shot on the 1, slicing it razor thin into the corner pocket and going up and down the table for shape. Cell phones were also going off left and right, despite several pleas from Scott Smith and Kim Davenport, and a few looks from Johnny, to turn them off. I really wish spectators would be more respectful of these great players.
The last rack was thrilling. Johnny broke and made 3 balls, but had no shot on the 1. He played safe, banking the 1 two cushions down the table and bringing the cueball to the headrail. But the 1 clipped a ball down table and left Bustamante a long, tough shot while bridging on the rail. He missed and left Johnny a shot on the 1 in the side, but he had to go up and down the table for shape on the 4 down on the end rail. He came up short on the shape, then with the shot clock winding down he played a beautiful safety off the 4, bringing the cueball down table and behind the 6. Bustamante kicked two cushions, hit the 4, and left a long, thin cut on the 4 into the corner. Meanwhile, the 6 was repositioned for a dead combo on the 9 in front of the corner pocket down table.
Johnny hit the 4 too full, and left a near straight-in shot, which Bustamante made, drawing back for the easy 6-9 combo to win the match and the tournament. Francisco played great pool all week and deserved the win. Both men were very gracious afterward--Francisco in victory, and Johnny in defeat--signing autographs and posing for pictures. I thought it was a great tournament. The tough equipment and alternate breaks from the box made for some exciting pool. You had to hit the balls clean and every run out was well earned.
The last four matches were taped and will air on ESPN in early May, I believe.
