The battle. Part II

Det nyblivna PBA-proffset Jason Belmonte har under våren tillbringat en del tid i Sverige tillsammans med spelarna i Team Pergamon. En av dessa är Johnny "talk-under-water" Magnusson. Just det smeknamnet har Jason givit honom av den anledningen att australiensaren är fullt övertygad om att den gode Johnny kan prata obehindrat även under vattnet.

För några dagar sedan publicerade jag den första delen av "The Battle". En tävlingsrapport från prestigekampen med olika typer av racketar mellan Jason och Johnny. Nu kommer del II.

Till Jason, som ställt sin text till förfogande för mig att publicera här på Digitalt Syre, säger jag och läsarna:

Thanks Mate !!
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PING PONG:
We moved to the back part of the arena and warmed up the ping pong ball. This was almost do or die for me, Kimberly over heard a few guys in the crowd say that Johnny is very good at tennis. I became a little more nervous hearing that. But my focus was on the match at hand.
An early unforced error by me. A forehand down the line winner by Johnny.
Backhand winner by Johnny
3-0
SHIT!!!!! This was bad news.
4-1
5-5.... I leveled it there.
Growing in confidence I started to play much better. Spinning serves that were impossible to return and hard and fast cross court and down the line winners were killing Johnny's defense game. The crowd had grown to at least 6 (maybe more, if you include the 2 people working out in the room next door).
A spinning serve once more to Johnny's back hand, his return flies way too long. 21-10, I win the first set.
The second set could of started any better for me. 16-6. It was all over.
I asked if Johnny wanted to just move on to tennis, his reply was a massive cross court winner to which he yelled "I NEVER GIVE UP baby". It sent the crowd into a frenzy. 16-6 turned into 16-9 quickly. I felt the pressure growing.
A touch of luck for Johnny as he sends a ball deep into my backhand, ONLY just touching the table for a winner. 17-14. I was confused. I had no answer, I looked to my wife for support, for some kind of sign...BUT she was cheering for Johnny!!!
I wiped the sweat of my eye brow, served with a heavy top and side spin, Johnny tries to send it back carefully, but it doesn´t get over the net.
18-14.
3 more points. That´s all I was thinking about.

Johnny gifted me 2 of them with some easy mistakes, then on match point I hit a ball deep to Johnny forehand, his return to far left and too long....
VICTORY in the ping pong was mine 21-10, 21-16.

1-1 in the championship. It doesn´t get any closer.