Grammar - were or are & has and had

[ancientone]

Which is the most appropriate sentence of all these 3 sentences.

Context : Pichai is an old man and is recalling his old memories.

1. Pichai may have met many people but his school teachers were the best people he has ever come across.

or

2. Pichai may have met many people but his teachers were the best people he had ever come across. (past)

or
3. Pichai may have met many people but his teachers are the best people he had ever come across.(present)

What I want to say is that his teachers were the best people (when he was in school) he's met till now, so which is going to be the best option among these 3.

Thanks

[Alan]

--> Pichai may have met many people but the best people he has ever come across are the teachers that he had at school.

(This serves to make clear both the inclusion of everybody he has met up to the present and the fact that the teachers themselves are, or may, no longer be alive.)