Red-hot Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda shoots for a playoff ticket when it battles winless AMA Online in the 2023 Philippine Basketball Association D-League Aspirants' Cup on Thursday at the FilOil EcoOil Center in San Juan.

Game time is set at 2 p.m.

After a stunning loss to newcomer PSP Gymers to open their campaign, the Red Lions have won three in a row against reigning champion EcoOil La Salle, Wangs Basketball@27 Striker-Letran and erstwhile unbeaten Perpetual Help University System Delta.

San Beda currently shares the top spot with idle La Salle with 3-1 records but would secure a Top 2 finish and an outright spot in the semifinals with a victory against the winless Titans.

Meanwhile, PSP (2-2) seeks a second straight win against Letran (0-2) in the other match at 4 p.m. to bolster its bid for quarterfinals berth.

"These are the teams and games we want to play, that's why we joined the D-League. Every game is tough and it could have gone either way so the learning never stops for us," San Beda coach Yuri Escueta said.

"We still have a lot of things to correct. We'll take it one game at a time. It's still far but what's important is our mindset every game."

AMA, on the other hand, is raring to barge into the win column after three straight blowout losses but beating the Red Lions look far-fetched.

Three-time National Collegiate Athletic Association champion Letran is also itching to make it to the win column.

"We have to rely on our defense. We should be disciplined and hungry to win," Letran coach Rensy Bajar said after bowing to San Beda and CEU.

PSP coach Jonathan Macaranas, for his part, vowed to show up prepared.

"We are facing Letran — the champion in the NCAA. We have to be prepared," Macaranas said.