A tough challenge awaits the Philippines when it takes on defending champion Thailand in the crossover semifinal of the 32nd Southeast Asia Games women's volleyball tournament Saturday at the Olympic Complex Indoor Main Hall.

The all-important battle begins at 6 p.m. (Manila time) with the winner advancing to the gold medal match against the winner of the other semifinal pairing between Vietnam and Indonesia.

Behind wingers Tots Carlos, Kat Tolentino, Jema Galanza and Mylene Paat, the Nationals defeated Singapore, 25-17, 25-14, 25-13, last Thursday to claim the No. 2 seed in the next round.

But ending an 18-year medal drought would be a harder climb this time for the Nationals as a loss to the unbeaten Thais will send them straight into a collision course with the loser between Indonesia and Vietnam for the bronze medal.

The Philippines has yet to win a game against the three regional volleyball powerhouse nations since beating Indonesia for the bronze medal in 2005 in Bacolod.

The Filipinas came just a point away from claiming bronze in 2019 in Manila only to be denied by the Indonesians in a five-set thriller.

Skipper Alyssa Valdez, who scored the game-clinching point against Singapore, might get more playing time after making her debut in her fifth straight SEA Games appearance at the end of the group stage last Thursday.

Valdez, who skipped the first two games to rest after sustaining a right knee injury last December, is the only national team player with experience playing Thailand in the SEA Games semis.

Bannered by four-time SEA Games champion Ajcharaporn Kongyot, the Thais topped Group A after winning all of their three matches.