KCB Tao: “Baus’ Volibear was a bit disgusting…” – LEC Versus Week 1 Interview

After getting an interview with him in Chinese, we decided to put KCB top laner Xu ‘Tao’ Hong Tao Alessandro’s polyglot skills to use in the first-ever Italian interview in the LEC. Even though he’s a man of few words, here is what he said after the series against Team Vitality.

Editor’s note: The transcript from the interview with KCB Tao has been translated from Italian to English.

How did you feel about the match against Vitality? What do you think about Naak Nako?

Tao: Naak Nako is very strong, in my opinion. The game was a bit difficult.

Davide: What did you find difficult? [Was it] the laning phase, teamfighting, or?

Tao: Naak Nako played the laning phase well.

In any case, do you consider it a positive week?

Tao: Yes, we won a game, so I’m happy.

Davide: How did you feel about it? [Did you feel] pressure on stage? Was there anything in particular that stood out for you?

Tao: Yes, the first game against KC, I was very stressed and I couldn’t play well, but after the second game, it went well.

C’est donc le grand jour…
#KCBWIN 🆚 #KCWIN pic.twitter.com/tcFaHlfup1

— Karmine Corp (@KarmineCorp) January 17, 2026

Davide: I wanted to talk about the game against KC because you told me about Canna last time. You wanted to play against him because you think he’s the strongest top laner in the LEC.

You struggled against him but was there something in particular that you learned? Did you have time to review and analyze the laning phase?

Tao: Yes, I watched the laning phase against Canna a bit and I fixed something.

Davide: Can you tell us, without going into too much detail, what?

Tao: The first three levels, how to play the matchup.

You told us the other time that your goal was to play the best possible in this LEC Versus. After this first week, do you think you have more ambitions, more concrete goals than what you set for yourself, or has that stayed the same?

Tao: It’s the same. The [goal] is to make it to playoffs.

Davide: Let’s talk about the team. Obviously, there’s a new lineup. We saw in another interview that Kamiloo had said that he is having a leading role within the team, being someone who, just like you, made the jump from division 2 to LEC. Can you tell us if he gave you any advice in particular on how you should approach the game?

Tao: Yes, he gives me a lot of advice in scrims on how to play, especially in mid game. He is very good.

Davide: In terms of comms, how are you organized within the team? Who is it one that directs the team and commands the others?

Tao: The support and mid.

Davide: Does it happen in turn or all together like a discussion?

Tao: No, we do it altogether.

Is there any team or player in particular that has surprised you? Also, is there anything in particular that you would like to say about Baus since you played against him yesterday, and you are expected to play against him again when you go down in ERLs?

Tao: Honestly, no one surprised me.

Davide: Not even Canna?

Tao: Neither. Baus has its own particular stuff so…

Davide: What was it like playing against his Volibear yesterday? You gave him the first loss – I’ll tell you that as a stat.

BAUSSI WITH THE MID GANK LEVEL 3!?! pic.twitter.com/4PjG2FNoNc

— LosRatones (@LosRatoneslol) January 18, 2026

Tao: It was a bit disgusting…

Davide: Disgusting in a strong way, or disgusting…

Tao: Yes, he pushed the wave and then he did the proxy. [It was] disgusting for this.

Have you had the opportunity to watch games from other leagues or regions?

Tao: Yes, a few games of LCK and LPL.

Davide: What teams?

Tao: T1.

Davide: Is there anything that you have managed to learn or at least take as a starting point?

Tao: Yes, something in mid-game, the work they do is very useful.

What do you think KCB should do now to, let’s say, raise the bar a bit?

Tao: In my opinion, our greatest problem is in the mid game…

Davide: Mainly rotations or teamfight?

Tao: Yes and communication sometimes is not as immediate.

Next week, you play against NAVI, MKOI, and SK Gaming. Which of the three teams are you more excited to go and play against, and if there is a player in particular of these three teams that you are interested in facing the most?

Tao: I would like to play against NAVI because I think I like NAVI’s top laner a lot.

Davide: Maynter, what do you like about him?

Tao: He is a very… yeah… strong player.

Davide: Last week, you told me you liked TheShy. Unfortunately, he is not playing, but I remember the message. I’m trying to find you a way to get that message to him. But I wanted to ask you if there is a top laner in the LPL among those who are playing now.

Is there anyone in particular that you would like to go against?

Tao: Honestly, no.

Davide: No? Not even like the top players? There is Bin, Flandre…

Tao: If I have to say one is Bin.

What would you like to say to your fans?

Tao: Thank you for your support, KC. Continue to support us.