Luca ‘Liuq’ Andenna, the assistant coach for Shopify Rebellion, stands as the sole Italian representative at the ALGS 2026 Championship, a competition where his team is widely anticipated to advance to the grand finals.
Amidst the chilly weather in Sapporo, Japan, Esports Insider Italy conducted an interview with Liuq to gather his thoughts on the event, his insights into the competitive landscape of Apex Legends, and his desired future trajectory for the battle royale game’s esports scene.
Andenna served as a coach for Gaimin Gladiators prior to taking on the role of strategy lead for Shopify Rebellion. He joined the Americas-based squad after the ALGS Midseason Playoffs held at the Esports World Cup.
“After the conclusion of the Esports World Cup, Don (Abas Adam, Shopify Rebellion’s head coach) approached me with an offer to collaborate, and the prospect of working alongside him seemed truly remarkable,” he stated.
“My reasoning is that I excel in game strategy; I am proficient in that area, but I’m not an expert in fostering interpersonal connections with players and staff. From this standpoint, I believe Don is unparalleled globally: I oversee the technical elements, while he manages the human relations aspects, though we consistently cooperate on both fronts.”
A Coach’s Outlook Approaching the ALGS Championship 2026
The competitive meta for Apex Legends this year showcases unprecedented variety. Despite this, certain victorious strategies and team compositions remain foundational for squad readiness.
Liuq anticipates this year’s ALGS Championship will be unforgettable: “It’s poised to be the most outstanding tournament we’ve ever witnessed, even with some initial predictable matches where we’ll encounter Newcastle, Valkyrie, and Caustic (who, combined, offer an unfair advantage), or Bangalore, Crypto, and Alter, which represents the only combination that barely counters this lineup.
“Once Newcastle is disallowed, I predict a considerable reduction in the number of viable team setups because many rosters have built their approach around surviving thanks to Newcastle. However, in ALGS Pro League, this is much simpler than in the World Cup, where after just two games, you can no longer create advantageous positions spontaneously. This implies that by the fourth or fifth ring, competitors begin engaging the first opponent they encounter.”
A particular team is setting the pace at this year’s ALGS, leading many lesser-known teams to try and emulate the leading contenders. Liuq aims to leverage this situation.
“Many teams are attempting to mimic Team Falcons, but ImperialHal’s squad possesses superior aiming skills compared to 98% of participants at this event, so imitation won’t yield favorable results. I foresee a shift in strategy among those teams that typically avoid combat, and we excel at capitalising on errors.”
Liuq Expresses Optimism for Apex Esports’ Future
Consistent player engagement and robust numbers indicate an expanding trajectory within the professional Apex Legends scene. When queried about the future of Apex Legends esports, Liuq maintains a positive outlook on the overall state of affairs, though he admits, “significant effort is still required.”
He continued: “This year presents an ideal chance to demonstrate to the global audience that Apex Legends ranks among the premier esports titles available. Consider Warzone, for example; it lacks the same impact despite being backed by a colossal entity like CoD, one of the most iconic video game franchises.”
Nevertheless, he reiterated a common sentiment among some ALGS professional players—the necessity for increased financial backing.
“I would be interested in seeing EA’s financial reports, given that the funds are available, and observe greater investment in organisations to further cultivate the ecosystem,” the coach remarked.
“Apex’s core strength lies in its competitive aspect, and they cater to both the competitive and casual player bases, which fills me with optimism. A stronger collaborative relationship with organisations would be beneficial.”
Similar to Hakis of Alliance, Liuq also expresses concern regarding the deteriorating dynamic between casual players and professional competitors.
He added: “If I were to offer one recommendation to EA, it would be to revise their approach to community engagement, which currently holds a largely unfavorable view of the game.
“I am the first to highlight deficiencies, but we must acknowledge that every tournament delivers an excellent spectacle, each match is captivating to observe and offers a rewarding experience. I hope to see the community shift its perspective, as a more positive environment would be welcome.”
The report on Shopify Rebellion’s coach discussing strategy at ALGS 2026, where he states, “We excel at capitalising on errors,” was originally published by Esports Insider.
