Just looking at the finals with Bala and MadKOF I don't think Bala is bitter about it. I think everyone can agree that he has had an absolutely amazing run. But I do think he'll look at it like 'what could I have done better?' kind of way.
This is my armchair analysis. Feel free to poke holes in it.
I think Bala wasn't playing footsies enough, MadKOF caught him quite a few times trying to jump in CD and he punished him badly for that.
And I think he should've stuck it out with Clark. The thing with Clark is that people think he has a bad AA game. Mad took advantage of that. And this is what Clark can do to get out of that:
If they jump in meaty or CD, you have to be holding back and blocking low, then when they jump again (could be neutral, toward, or away) you do A Gatlin'. Failing that you could toward jump C to grab them, but you basically have to know that they're going to jump because if you're late you're going to eat a punish.
The weird thing is that specifically against Duo (maybe other characters, need to test this more) is that A Gatlin' tends to Whiff if Duo jumps towards you again, but he's more free to get air grabbed... Weird.
Not suggesting that I could've done better or anything.