Former world pool champion Rubilen Amit showed emotional support to Jeanette Lee, widely known as “The Black Widow” after the American pool player revealed she was diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer.
“Prayers with you, Jeanette Lee ‘The Black Widow’,” Amit wrote in her Facebook account recently, sharing a post from English pool player Alli Fisher about Lee’s diagnosis.
Lee, 49, revealed her diagnosis in a news release last month, saying: “I intend to bring the same resolve I brought to the billiards table to this fight.”
“Jim Valvano so eloquently told us to ‘Never give up.’ I owe it to my three young daughters to do exactly that.”
A New York native of Korean heritage, Lee shot to fame in the sport in the 90s with three runner-up finishes at the World 9-ball Women’s Championships from 1993 to 1996.
Apart from top finishes in the WPBA Tour, she also won the gold for the United States in the 2001 World Games in Akita, Japan.
Amit has personally met and talked with Lee in the past, most especially during tournaments including in the 2009 WPA Women’s World 10-ball championship where the Filipino bet won the crown.
In that tournament, Amit faced and beat Lee in the knockout stage.
Amit also remembered teaming up with pool legend Efren “Bata” Reyes in the 2011 World Mixed Doubles in Hangzhou, China where they won the title against US tandem Johnny Archer and Lee.
“Matagal na since last kami nag-usap, and only when I see her in tournaments,” Amit said.
“Mabait siya.”
Meanwhile, Lee thanked everyone who showed her support to her endeavor in a Facebook video post.
“As many of you have probably heard, I was recently diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. Thank you to each and every one of you who have reached out already! I appreciate you all so much and know that I'm not alone in this fight. I will try to keep you all updated as best I can,” said Lee.