As part of the preseason preparations of the Blue Batters, they joined again the Hong Kong International Baseball Open 2017 which ran from December 14–17, 2016. They chose to join this tournament again because they are the defending champions having won this annual tournament last year. The tournament was sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation ("WBSC"). Four teams from Australia China, Hong Kong and the Philippines participated. The Blue Batters, representing the Philippines swept the elimination round of their group and beat the team from Australia in the Finals to emerge as the 2017 champions of this international tournament.