Thus Bustamante survived a nerve-wracking finale against Dennis Orcullo, rallying from an early three-rack deficit for a come-from-behind 15-13 win to bag the Philippine 9-Ball Open crown in the wee hours of Monday morning at the Robinson’s Galleria Trade Hall.

Still favoring his right elbow, Bustamante needed 47 racks and four hours in securing the championship and the P500,000 cash prize to go with it in the tournament organized by Puyat Sports and Solar Sports.

He earlier beat giant-killer Mario Tolentino in the semifinals, 11-8, while Orcullo, who downed Ronnie Alcano, 11-8, in the other semifinal clash, settled for P250,000.

“I’m glad it’s over. I’m poofed,” said Bustamante, whose lovely wife Mila was at the venue from day one of the five-day event to cheer him on.

The 42-year-old pride of Tarlac underwent a physical Monday to determine if he’s fit to play long tournaments.

Bustamante has shown himself able to play through pain — physical and emotional.

While his nagging elbow injury caused him much discomfort, it is nowhere near the emotional hurt he suffered while playing in the 2003 World Pool Championship when his youngest daughter died.

Bustamante decided to soldier on in the tournament, eventually losing to American Earl “The Pearl” Strickland in the finals. 

Known for his explosive breaks, Bustamante took it easy this time in playing Orcullo, failing to hold them in thrice of his first seven tries that allowed Orcullo to gain an 8-6 lead.

It would have been worse if not for a brilliant carom shot on the red three that pocketed the nine-ball on the sixth rack that stopped a four-rack tear by Orcullo and pulled Bustamante within 2-4.

Orcullo’s dry break on the 15th frame proved to be the turning point of the match as Bustamante clustered two racks to level at 8-all.

A pocketing error by Orcullo on the 25th led to another two-rack cluster by Bustamante and shoved the former world No. 1 to the hill, 14-12.

Tañamor loses in Finland

TAMPERE, Finland — Questionable officiating reared its ugly head in the Tammer International boxing championship after Asian champion Harry Tañamor surprisingly lost to Welshman Nasir Mohammad here.

Despite being the superior boxer, Tañamor still absorbed a stinging 12-2 defeat at the hands of Mohammad, which was apparently abetted by Terry Smith, the chief jury, who gets to pick the judges for each bout.

The outcome was loudly jeered by the crowd and came on the heels of losses by Joegen Ladon and Mark Jason Melligen. 

Ladon took a 19-47 beating from lanky Swede Bashir Hassan, while Melligen fell to an RSC (referee-stopped-contest) verdict to Jean Juet of Seychelles.