JELGAVA, Latvia — Lithuanian team Žalgiris are the pacesetters in the early stages of the 09/10 Baltic Basketball League.

The nature of the competition sees some teams such as Žalgiris having already played three games, managing wins in all three to sit atop of the table, whilst other commitments mean teams such as Ventspils are yet to play a game. However, early form would suggest that as other teams begin to catch up on the playing schedule, Žalgiris will remain somewhere near the top of the table.

Also riding high are Kalev/Cramo producing two wins from their first two games. Having played some of the lesser rated teams to date, Kalev/Cramo will know they will have to lift their game if they are to remain in this early season position.

Rounding out the top four are VEF Riga who have won one from two and Lietuvos Rytas who have won their only game to date. The no. 2 Latvian team VEF Riga have shown some early season promise, demoralizing Liepājas Lauvas 95-57, before going down 90-95 in a closely fought match to Kalev/Cramo.

Early signs are not great for Lauvas and Lithuanian team Nevėžis, with both already averaging plus 20 point losses.

After a hectic start to the season which saw eight games take place in a matter of days, the pace now slows down somewhat, as the second-tier competition also starts up and some teams begin to fulfill their requirements in wider Europe.

The one game of note this coming week will take place on Saturday when VEF Riga travel to Lithuania to take on Žalgiris. The result of the game will give a better indication of just how much stronger basketball is in Lithuania, compared to its Baltic counterparts.