The issue isn’t the length of the straw, that friction is negligible (unless the straw was extremely thin). The issue with a longer straw is the difference in elevation at the point of suction compared to the elevation of the liquid. If you have a silly straw you need much less (negative) pressure than if that same straw was straightened out.

More likely there’s a slow leak from the roof, and water had accumulated before starting to leak through the ceiling. He drained the accumulated water, but the slow leak is still going.