Philippines, 03 Jun 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Column -- Triple G and the missing sportswriter


PhilBoxing.com




CHICAGO -- When Boss Dong Secuya decided to green light my request to attach an NBA page to his world-famous PhilBoxing.com website back in April 2011, Nicholai Rhiz Roska was the first writer I recruited to join our stable.

Nick, a Los Angeles denizen by way of Capitol, Cebu City, covered the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA teams that visited Staples Center.

A U.P. High alum with a soaring flair for words, Nick eventually spread his literary wings and flew joyfully onward to NBA.com Philippines and SPIN.ph as a contributor, two equally reputable sites where I also happened to serve separately as U.S. editor.

Nearly two years ago though, after covering the 2018 NBA All-Star Game in his L.A. backyard, Nick mysteriously disappeared, never again to surface at Staples Center or any NBA arena near you.

As it turned out, Nick was leading a double life.

Outside of the playing field, he was actually a registered nurse. Happily married to Kathleen Maye and doting father to their little princess --- Katareena Roska.

More family time beckoned, so Nick had to reluctantly surrender his NBA credentials. Nick is also pursuing a lifelong dream of being a pilot and is close to getting his license.

From sports scribe to wearing scrubs to being captain of the skies.

Life is beautiful.

Early today, though, with some disposable time on his hands on a gorgeous Sunday morning in the city of angels, Nick meandered over to the MG Studio downtown for a Manchester United event.

A lifelong soccer fan who had worshiped at the altar of Man U since 1995, Nick went to the venue with the urgency of a bank robber being chased by the wailing sirens of three police cars.

Once he got to the shindig, he met a fellow diehard, who happens to be one of the greatest boxers who ever lived, the three most dangerous letters in boxing.

G.G.G.

Gennady Gennadyevich Golovkin.

Triple G.

"He was exceedingly nice. As welcoming as our parish priest," Ncik told PhilBoxing.com.


Trip G (R) poses with former Philboxing writer Nick Roska.

As if his Sunday couldn't get any better, the event served free unlimited adult beverages to go along with carne asada, tacos, fish and chips.

Unfortunately, Nick is a disciplined vegetarian who is partial to quinoa and leaves, and has renounced all things alcoholic.

Even without the booze and the wretched excess of fried treats, though, Nick Roska, a once upon a time sportswriter, had a Sunday to remember.

EDITOR's NOTE: The Chicago-based author is a regular columnist at SPIN.ph. He began his career as a newspaper reporter in 1993. He is the former U.S. editor of NBA.com Philippines and is currently the U.S. editor of Sports on Air. Sayson, who considers boxing a first love and basketball a beloved mistress, also has a regular NBA segment at "Power and Play with Kom Noli " hosted by former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala every Saturdays at Radyo Singko FM.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • JOSEPH "JOJO" DIAZ EAGER TO REVIVE CAREER AHEAD OF JUNE 19 SHOWDOWN WITH "H2O" SYLVE
    , Wed, 03 Jun 2026
  • Charly Suarez is my idol - Jhon Lowie Lastimosa
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 03 Jun 2026
  • Josh “The Hammer” Popper: From Holy Spirit to a Heavyweight Headline at the Tropicana
    , Wed, 03 Jun 2026
  • 600 athletes expected in 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo tourney
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 03 Jun 2026
  • Dagestan rivalry set to ignite Moscow: Khalidov and Yallyev clash on stacked IBA PRO 19 card
    , Wed, 03 Jun 2026
  • Deep Waters rules inaugural WR Bughouse Championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 02 Jun 2026
  • HE TURKI ALALSHIKH: 'AJ vs PRENGA IN JEDDAH REINFORCES SAUDI ARABIA'S POSITION AS DESTINATION FOR WORLD'S LEADING EVENTS'
    , Tue, 02 Jun 2026
  • ANTHONY JOSHUA VS KRISTIAN PRENGA TO TAKE PLACE IN JEDDAH ON JULY 25 – LIVE ON DAZN – AS HEAVYWEIGHTS FACE-OFF IN LONDON
    , Tue, 02 Jun 2026
  • Ryan ‘The Bruiser’ Rozicki Gets a kick out of British sports fans
    , Tue, 02 Jun 2026
  • GUSTAVO TRUJILLO CONTINUES HEAVYWEIGHT ASCENT WITH DEVASTATING FIRST-ROUND TKO
    , Mon, 01 Jun 2026
  • Boxing Insider Promotions Brings Regional Card to Tropicana Atlantic City on Saturday, June 13
    , Mon, 01 Jun 2026
  • Chess, in whatever form, is a great equalizer
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 01 Jun 2026
  • UNBEATEN CRIZTIAN PITT LAURENTE RETURNS TO FACE JING AGUAN IN A LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT HEADLINING SANMAN 101
    , Mon, 01 Jun 2026
  • Lebosada, Sia rule DSA Open golf
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 01 Jun 2026
  • Davao Chess Eagles in FIDE World Team Rapid & Blitz in Hong Kong
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 01 Jun 2026
  • Pido retains crown, Pulleda wins
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 01 Jun 2026
  • Juarez defeats Valle by split decision to retain WBC belt in El Paso,Texas
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 31 May 2026
  • Jose Sulaiman's 95th birthday is being celebrated with events around the world
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 31 May 2026
  • Filipino referee Danrex Tapdasan is now one of the IBF board of directors
    , Sun, 31 May 2026
  • Cavite Inter-Town Chess Tournament gets underway
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 31 May 2026
  • Lieutenant Delfin Boholst: Soldier, Boxing Coach, Mentor
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Sat, 30 May 2026
  • O’Shaquie Foster vs Raymond Ford: Bad Blood Equals Good Fight
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 30 May 2026
  • WBC Issues Rules Clarification for Designating David Benavidez Mandatory Challenger to Noel Mikaelian External Inbox Andre Courtemanche -- Big Media Buzz
    , Sat, 30 May 2026
  • FOSTER VS. FORD – WEIGHTS AND THE FINAL WORD AHEAD OF TOMORROW NIGHT’S ACTION
    , Sat, 30 May 2026
  • AWE to Air Live the WBC World Title Rematch of Kevin Lerena v. Ryad Merhy this Saturday
    , Sat, 30 May 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.