Echo Park Sushi Chef Is One of Two SuperLotto Winners

The news came late Saturday. The latest .

Residents wondered all week who would claim the $15 million dollar pot, and finally late Thursday two gentlement checked in at the state lottery office in Van Nuys.

They were long-time friends. They'd both come to America from the Philippines to seek their fortune. They both live in Echo Park at the edge of Filipinotown.

One of them, Victor Caube, 47, came to America about 10 years ago after training in Japan and then Guam as a sushi chef.

He works long hours as a sushi chef in Long Beach.

Victor supports a child and other family members back in the Philippines. So he's delighted about the changes his SuperLotto win will bring to his life.

"Everything here is so expensive," he said. "I tried my luck and I have never won anything before. I am so blessed."

He'd been playing the lottery twice a week for months, always with his friend.

He says he hopes to start a small business--possibly a restaurant--in his home country with his winnings.

Caube will split the pot with his friend--who asked to remain anonymous--who is currently studying to take his state board exams to be certified as a nurse.

A California lottery spokesman says it is not uncommon for friends or co-workers to enter the Lottery and win together.

As long as they win over $1 million, they can receive separate checks.

An earlier version of this story identified the winner as Victor C., at his request. Since then The Eastsider and Echo Park Now have both revealed his full name, so we do too.