Kobe Shinwa which topped the Invitational Cup of the defunct Philippine Superliga in 2017, and the Taipei King Whales, a top team in the Taiwan Volleyball League, will test the mettle with the best local squads in the upcoming season of PVL Invitationals.

But, both teams will only see action in the semifinal round starting on Aug. 29 against the four teams that will advance at the end of a single-round, seven-team eliminations.

Seven local teams, first, will duke it out for the spot in the semifinals through a round-robin elimination bannered by the Open Conference champions Creamline Cool Smashers.

Petro Gazz Angels, runner-up to Creamline in the first conference, and last year’s Open champion Chery Tiggo Crossovers will participate in the Invitationals alongside Cignal HD Spikers, Choco Mucho Flying Titans, Army Black Mamba Troopers, and PLDT High Speed Hitters.

Skipping the mid-season conference are F2 Logistics, a multi-titled team from the Philippine Superliga, and longtime PVL mainstay BaliPure.

Play in the eliminations will have the local teams play a single round the top four teams will advance to the next round where the Japan and Taiwan teams will launch their respective bids in another single round format.

“It is our continuing commitment to raise the level of local volleyball and the presence of the Japan and Taiwan squads will surely help toughen up the competition and improve the quality of play,” Sports Vision president Ricky Palou averred.

PVL, meanwhile, will take a hiatus from July 11 to August 20 to give way to the national volleyball team’s preparation for the Asian Women’s Volleyball Cup on August 21-28, then will return on August 29 with the foreign teams to battle the best local squads.